lee@butler.UUCP (Kyu Lee) (02/27/86)
I promised in my prior posting that the summary of dbms survey will be posted on 26 FEB. This is 27 FEB, & I am 1 day late. Anyway, here we go. Actually, I was disappointed by the lack of responses, but then maybe a survey was done not long ago. If so, would somebody kind enough to E-mail me a copy? ...uw-beaver!teltone!dataio!butler!lee Number of responses: 3 users & 2 vendors Disclaimer, Qualifications, etc.: Most information are based on the responses & I am not responsible for any mistakes/misquotes except the prices; I used round figures wherever possible to reflect the real prices, not a hoaky $399.99 scheme the vendors are so fond of. Maybe I should conduct another survey to find out how many people are really fooled to think that this is $300! SUMMARY: 1. Reflex (Borland International): PC. For simple to moderately sophisticated use, it is capable, easy to use, and works as specified. Also has spreadsheet capabilities. The user is very satisfied. Lists at $100. Full text below. 2. File (Microsoft). Mac. A file manager, not a dbms, but works well for what it is intended for. <$200. Full text below. 3. Rbase 5000 (MicroRim). IBM/Pc. Most satisfied. Very powerfull, easy to use, and is a quality product. Lists at $800 4. db_VISTA (RAIMA). MS-DOS, Mac, Unix. A network model DBMS Suited for experienced C-programmers. Lists at $200 for single-user w/o source. My transposition of the vendor response below. 5. Interlace (Singular Software). Mac. A good review by Dennis Collier in Apple-Drllo. User-friendly, good tutorials. Can handle multiple files. Follows Mac interface. Lists at $140. DETAILS: Sande Nissen of ATT on Reflex: I have used many low-end DBMS on the IBM PC and clones, and several of the high-end products. For simple to moderately sophisticated use, I have abandoned all the products but one: Borland International's Reflex (previously from Analytica Corp). For $99.95, it has the functionality of a powerful single-file DBMS with all the capabilities of a spreadsheet. However, I chose the package because of its high quality and smooth interface. By high quality, I mean that operations work the way you would expect them to, with reasonable defaults and excellent error trapping. By smooth interface, I mean that the displays and keyboard sequences are efficient and very clear, even with three windows on the screen at once. It also stores data very efficiently by storing all text fields as varaible length. The only weaknesses I see in this package are the stringent system requirements. It only runs on the IBM PC and 100% compatibles, with at least 384K and some graphics card (IBM standard color card or Hercules). However, Borland is continuing development on this product, and I think future versions will run on more systems (including the Mac?) and have even more capacity and functionality. What more could you ask? Sande Nissen Disclaimer: These views are mine today; they do not represent the opinions of my employers, and I am not affiliated with Borland International. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Steve Langdon of Amdahl Corp. on Microsoft File: In article <165@butler.UUCP> you write: > I am soliciting your experiences & opinions on various database > management systems on IBM PC (PC/XT/AT) or MAC. I use Microsoft File on a Mac. It is not really a DBMS, rather it is a smart file manager and report generator. > .Usability > .Ease of use It does most things on needs to do at home fairly well. There are a few counter intuitive pieces of behaviour about storing a "Form" with a file but it is pretty good overall and much better than almost anything else I have tried. Note that I have not tried all that many things. > .Batch or Interactive? Interactive > .Use of graphics: color/black? Resolution? Pictures can be stored as fields in a record. Standard Mac screen stuff. > .Quality & Quality control Good. > .Support I just signed up for an update costing $10 > .Maturity of the product Available for over a year. > .Cost More than $100 less than $200 > .Type of Application See above > .Hardwares it supports, i.e., does it run both on PC & > Mac or any other machines? I am more interested in the > user interface issues here than the actual implementation. Mac only. > .Address of the vendor Look it up Microsoft in any micro magazine > .Performance (speed) Not very fast, but not painfully slow. > .Hardware Requirements: memory, disk, etc. Any reasonable Mac configuration (ie. > 400K of disk space, > 128k memory desirable, but not absolutely required). Steve Langdon ...!{ihnp4,cbosgd,hplabs,sun}!amdahl!sjl +1 408 746 6970 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Peter Korn of UC/Berkeley on R:base 5000: In article <165@butler.UUCP> you write: >I am soliciting your experiences & opinions on various database >management systems on IBM PC (PC/XT/AT) or MAC. R:base 5000. I speak as a *most* satisfied user. > > .Usability Very powerful (most powerful micro database I've ever seen. > .Ease of use from 1-10, 8++. It's got a graphic database set up program, or you can do it through the command language. I usually use the program, and then modify fromthe command language > .Batch or Interactive? Both. It will compile applications, or just take input from a file (batch file, which is different from an application). > .Use of graphics: color/black? Resolution? Nice use of graphics, no color. I don't have a Herculese card, so I don't know if it uses that. > .Quality & Quality control All serious bugs taken care of when they went from R:base 4000 to 5000. There were some online help files missing in 1.0, and one feature of the one of the sample DBMS turnkey systems (applications) didn't work. > .Support I'm very happy with it. > .Maturity of the product Very. > .Cost Very. $795 (mail order for $450 probably) > .Type of Application Relational database, compiler, etc. etc. Also will automatically create the *entire* database from dBaseII, PFS, and many many others. > .Hardwares it supports, i.e., does it run both on PC & > Mac or any other machines? I am more interested in the > user interface issues here than the actual implementation. IBM PC or compatible. Needs 256K, wants >=512K > .Address of the vendor MicroRim. I don't have the address here at home. > .Performance (speed) Decently fast. Key the fields and you're really in business. > .Hardware Requirements: memory, disk, etc. W/out a hard drive you're gonna get real annoyed real fast. > - ----- Peter Korn korn@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU {dual,dscvax,sdcsvax}!ucbvax!korn Of: ASUC Comptuer Store Bancroft Way at Telegraph Brk. CA 94720 (415) 642-4605 You see, we use it for all our database needs... ---------------------------------------------------------------- db_VISTA (RAIMA): Transcribed by K.Lee from the RAIMA's response. Usability: For experienced C-programmers Interactive/batch: Interactive Graphics: User can program to interface to graphics Support: 90 day warranty. Support for fee available. Maturity: 1 1/2 yrs old Cost: $200 for single-user w/o source $500 for single-user with source/Multi-user w/o source $990 for Multi-user with source. Hardware: MS-DOS, Mac, Unix. Address: Raima Corporation 12201 SE 10th St. Bellevue, WA 98005 Hardware Req.: >64K. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Interlace(Singular Software): Interactive/batch: Interactive Cost: $140 Hardware: Mac Address: Singular Software 5888 Castano Drive San Jose, CA 95129 System Req.: 512K, 2 drives Other : Dennis Collier rates **** out of 5.(Apple-Drlla?) Disclaimer: All information based on vendor's literature.