Re. MS Spot Changing
> can you point us to a modern version of the Bloor Report?
Yes, for example you can download the report on SQL Server 2005 free from Bloor's website.
http://www.bloor-research.com/research/product_evaluation/
741/microsoft_sql_server_2005.html
A couple of quotes from it:
"SQL Server 2005 is highly scalable...."
and
"We have not previously considered SQL Server to be a serious contender for data warehousing, at least not for large sites. However, Microsoft has made significant inroads into the market over the last few years."
suggest that Bloor now sees the product as much improved. In addition, the existence of such a report tells us that Microsoft does give permission for testing and I'm sure that companies like Bloor now insist that they get said permission is writing.
> why believe that the company or their product is any way changed?
My beliefs about the change in the product are based in part on reports like this one but also on my own experience with SQL Server, Oracle and DB2.
10 years ago there was, in my opinion, a huge gulf between the products – now there is not. They still have differing sets of strengths and weaknesses; but at least they are all in the same ball park (cricket pitch for our UK readers).
My belief about the change in the company is based on my interaction with it over the years. Am I swayed by the PR? Of course not; just like everyone else I have ever met, I KNOW that I am personally unaffected by marketing and/or advertising…….