Informix Editions revisited / Vers�es Informix revisitadas

This article will be in English and Portuguese.
Este artigo ser� em Ingl�s e Portugu�s

English version:

After the announcements in May, new changes were made to Informix packaging. Basically the free versions for Windows and Mac OSX (Ultimate-C) were withdrawn. To replace them the Innovator-C version (also free, but with lower usage limits) will be available for all platforms (including the Windows and Mac OSX).

Also a new edition will be available, called Choice Edition, just for Windows and Mac OSX. This one will have license costs, but is cheaper than Growth Edition. The limits are higher than Innovator-C and lower than Growth Edition.

I believe these changes have created some confusion, but there are some important points to note:

  1. Clients will still be able to use a version without license costs for all platforms supported by Informix (Innovator-C). The usage limitations are fairly acceptable for a lot of usages
  2. Windows and Mac OSX are target platforms with a more aggressive price, considering Choice Edition (again, with fairly respectable functionality and usage limits)
  3. Existing customers are not necessarily affected by the new editions. They already payed for the licenses, and are (probably) paying maintenance/support. Obviously they can consider the new editions for new deployments
  4. Existing Enterprise Edition customers get more value, because Ultimate Edition includes more features than the Enterprise
The last changes were announced a few days ago and are explained in IIUG website, more specifically here:
http://www.iiug.org/news/announcements/new_prices.php

I delayed the publishing of this article because I was expecting the website comparing the different versions to be updated:

http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/data/library/techarticle/dm-0801doe/

This is the best, and the official place to check each version available functionality.

Other links:



Vers�o Portuguesa:

Depois dos an�ncios em Maio, novas altera��es foram feitas nas vers�es de Informix dispon�veis. Basicamente as vers�es gr�tis para Windows e Mac OSX (Ultimate-C) foram descontinuadas. Para as substituir a vers�o Innovator-C (igualmente gr�tis, mas com limites de utiliza��o mais baixos) estar� dispon�vel para todas as plataformas (incluindo Windows e Mac OSX)

Uma nova vers�o estar� dispon�vel, designada por Choice Edition, apenas para Windows e Mac OSX. Esta vers�o ter� custos de licenciamento, mas ser� mais barata que a Growth Edition. Os limites situam-se entre a Innovator-C e a Growth Edition.

Acredito que estas altera��es provoquem alguma confus�o, mas h� que salientar alguns pontos:

  1. Os clientes poder�o utilizar uma vers�o sem custos em todas as plataformas suportadas pelo Informix (Innovator-C). As funcionalidades inclu�das e os limites impostos n�o dever�o ser obst�culo a um leque grande de ambientes.
  2. Windows e Mac OSX s�o plataformas alvo, com pre�os mais agressivos, considerando a vers�o Choice (tamb�m com funcionalidades e limites de utiliza��o bastante respeit�veis.
  3. Os clientes existentes n�o s�o necessariamente afectados pelas novas vers�es. Na realidade o custo das licen�as j� foi pago, e o que estar�o (provavelmente) a pagar s�o os custos de manuten��o/suporte. Naturalmente poder�o considerar as novas vers�es para novos projectos.
  4. Clientes actuais da Enterprise Edition obt�m mais valor, porque a vers�o Ultimate inclu� mais funcionalidade que a Enterprise
As �ltimas altera��es foram anunciadas alguns dias atr�s e est�o explicadas no website do IIUG, mais especificamente aqui:

http://www.iiug.org/news/announcements/new_prices.php

Atrasei um pouco a publica��o deste artigo porque estava � espera que o website que tem a compara��o entre as vers�es fosse actualizado:

http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/data/library/techarticle/dm-0801doe/

Este � o melhor sitio (e o oficial) para verificar as funcionalidades e limites de cada vers�o.

Outros links: