The reader wrote:

"We have been Oracle DB customers since day one. We have a number of large databases, including GIS information and pretty complex environmental and regulatory data. Some time ago, our users asked us to port a significant portion of our main internal client/server system to laptops so that field staff could use the system. This sounded like an interesting project, so we were happy to take the challenge."

"First thing, I got a copy of Personal Oracle and manually created tables and data, and eventually I got a set of tables that allowed the parts of the system field staff would need. OK, proof of concept completed, and it was looking very promising."

"But that was then, and this is now: We need to replicate something like 120 or 130 tables for each user, with a different subset of data for each one. Our DBA worked to get the Oracle Replication Engine working to automate the week-long manual process I did back in the 90s. Somewhere around 90 tables, the software gave it up. He spent weeks and weeks working with Oracle support before he threw in the towel. It became obvious to him that Oracle wasn't even slightly interested in fixing their tools to work as advertised. Now, I'm forced to devote MY staff to developing a tool to synchronize Oracle data between laptops and the enterprise database."

"And my users, the program managers, are stuck without their desired tools. I have a VERY similar story to tell about their Oracle Business Intelligence reporting tool - brittle, so fragile that someone sneezing in the hall outside the machine room causes it to crash."

"From my perspective, it appears that Oracle can really only provide one thing at a professional, enterprise level, the basic Relational Database Management System. Period. And the parts of that around the edges are very shaky. If it weren't for Microsoft's famous lack of support, they could put Oracle out of business in a month."

Which vendor do you think is most in need of an attitude adjustment? Voice your opinion by calling the Gripe Line at 1 888 875-7916, or write me at Foster@gripe2ed.com.