Comments on: Sun Buys MySQL — I Think It’s a Disaster

By: josephfeller

josephfeller — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 17:13:14 +0000

Folks – Oracle bought up their own dual-license-slinging, support-selling open source database company back in 2006 – Sleepycat (Berkeley DB). Two years on, Oracle has pushed Berkeley DB through three major releases, and they are still holding on to the original Sleepycat revenue model (support sales and dual licensing) and the DB is still open source.

Why does everyone assume that the only reason a profit seeking firm like Sun would buy up an OSS company is to make it proprietary? Remember that MySQL AB is a profit seeking company themselves!

By: Thomas

Thomas — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 05:05:05 +0000

Need anyone point out that Open Source does not necessarily equate to Free Software? Last I checked, Sun was a business and thus desires to maximizing profits. At best, I see an eventual Microsoft-Fox scenario where Sun figures out how to make a database and keeps a stripped MySQL as a “Lite” version as free and creates MySQL Pro as the version that is not free ala SQL Express and SQL Server.

By: pedro

pedro — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 20:29:30 +0000

#20 you came all the way here, said what you said and yet didn’t thank John for adding a volume control to the media player?

By: ZUrlocker

ZUrlocker — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 19:55:10 +0000

John,
this was the funniest story I have read in ages. It gave us all a good laugh at MySQL. I enjoy your writing and I think you know how to tweak mac users and open source guys. But this was so far off as a conspiracy theory that it was just too funny.

I think this is a game changing move by Sun and it’s a vote of confidence not only in MySQL but in Open Source in general.
–Zack

Zack Urlocker
EVP Products
MySQL

By: BubbaRay

BubbaRay — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 09:28:02 +0000

I’ve an old TRS-100 that still works for writing articles and numerous other chores. Best keyboard I’ve seen on a “notebook” in a long time. 25 yrs. old and still works like new, even with a spill or two.

In the pressbox at pro games, one can occasionally see one or two on the desks (well, in 2000).

By: John C Dvorak

John C Dvorak — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 04:59:11 +0000

Pedro..I have to adjust MY volume to the pre-roll.

By: yikes

yikes — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 22:27:03 +0000

“Microsoft rumored to buy Logitech? Why? What is the point?”

Why? Microsoft can finally unleash it’s answer to Apple’s success; The iHeadPhone!

By: drem

drem — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 18:21:32 +0000

Of course IT WILL REMAIN FREE!!!
Do you guys have any ideea about Sun’s policy in the last 3-4 years!? If not, read the anouncements etc.

By: pedro

pedro — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 17:10:23 +0000

#10 what! you kidding? those keyboards are toys. And don’t get me started with those damned one button laptops. Who the hell still thinks it’s a good idea to have a key pressed in the keyboard to have an alternate menu?

Oh, that’s right. I must think differently.

#13 thanks for reassuring what is obvious to the eye. It looked like a TI keyboard.

By: iGlobalWarmer

iGlobalWarmer — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 16:39:15 +0000

I was considering using a MySQL backend to an upcoming project to keep costs down, but if there’s a good chance it’s not going to remain free, might as well stay with SQL server.

By: Fratm

Fratm — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 15:57:56 +0000

#10, I tried the keyboard on the new iMac’s just yesterday.. No thanks.. Reminds me of the TI99 days.

I will give them this much, the aluminum case on the keyboard is nice.. but that’s about it. Oh and I was impressed to see that Apple finally added a scroll wheel, err scroll ball? whatever it is nipple on the mouse is I did like it though, nice and small.

-Fratm

By: Thomas

Thomas — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 15:37:53 +0000

I’m guessing that Sun’s purchase of MySQL will spell the end of it as a free database. Eventually, Sun will want to charge for it to make it look respectable compared to Oracle and SQL Server.

By: god

god — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 15:37:07 +0000

Ellison can spend the money he didn’t spend on mysql – on an A380 for himself.

By: god

god — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 15:35:38 +0000

#5 – you really should walk into an Apple store if for no other reason than to come up with “problems” that aren’t from the last Century.

While you’re there, try the keyboard on the new iMac. It rocks and they sell ‘em to PC users. Probably the same as the Air.

By: jlm

jlm — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 10:40:27 +0000

damn, guess Sun needed another project to screw up