Visit to DCIs Data warehouse World- Orlando 3/17.
Excitement. Imagine arriving at the convention center to find that Macdonalds is having their world convention. Hot dog, or rather hamberger.
DCI-www.dci.com is for professionals and not open to the public. I got invited for whatever that is worth.It is a big networking and seminar deal with lots of dealings between vendors. I did not bother Kevin Horigan who was busy-good- but had a friend contact him while I was zipping around. Here are my observations from the show and conversations.
1, Two years ago I spent 4-5 hours with Sand management. They (he) laid out a plan and has delivered and then some. Sand now has an aray of products priced from $550- 350,000, fitting a wide varey of situations. Very impressive. and the company is still in good shape financially, even more impressive. I am convinced they know what needs tobe done and are on the right track.Horigan is surprised , as am I , that the impact of having DEC as a partner has not been exciting. I want by the DEC booth and there was Sand information. The software is now available thru DEC distribution channels. BIG DEAL!!
2. Going to a show today is quite different. Very clean environment, no bulky stuff, just powerful PCs and servers. It is a new world from a few years ago. Different technology.
3. Partnering. No more reinventing the wheel. No time. Everyone working deals and consolidating. much different group of attenties. Every one stressing how they work with one another. This whole show is about that.Sucess is making the deals. Sand with Hitachi, Dec, and Compaq? .Who knows ,But they are on the right track for sure.
4. As you 'came on the door, and where ever you went you saw a 3x6 billboard stressing a comparison benchmark of Arbor Ess/base vs. Oracle Express. A 25% improvement? A 50 % improvement? How about a
600% improvement. Makes you think. Dbms systems are 25 years old. Lots of changes. Oracle sales $ 5,000,000,000 a year and getting chewed by a new product by a factor of 6. MMMMM. Don't' like that.Maby Larry is reaching for his wallet to protect that base.
Nothing concret, and much stuff to read, and no Big Mac. But you come away feeling Sand is in the right place at the right time, well run and unlimited possibilities. Will get back after going over the 50 Lbs of stuff. Staying long, and buying more. |
