Relational Databases
Oracle MySQL SQL Server  PostgreSQL Firebird Teradata
Business Summary An industry standard. An industry standard. Best bang for the buck. An industry standard. Best commercial RDBMS. Bang for the buck. Extensive history. Bang fo rht buck. Specifically for huge data analysis.
EoU Consultingware medium easy medium Consultingware
>10TB ok no weak no no Powerful http://www.cio.com/archive/041505/tl_data.html
>2TB Strong weak Strong weak weak Powerful
Single Row Queries Strong Strong Strong Strong Strong weak
Query Cache
Can change table storage structure yes no
Data Types
Tools
Windows Standards -
Unix Standards -
Productivity Counter-productive
Constraints
Sequential Numbers ~ sequences, no autonumber ~ identity
XML Support
Configuration Files ~ tnsnames.ora (not.xml)
Daily Consulting Cost $2000 to $4000+
Command Line Scriptable SQL+
View Renaming cascading to scripts yes no
RDBMS standards no (users have tables rather than databases have tables, "schemas" terminology is misused)
Development
SQL Standards osql, sql
RegEx support no
Links
Database Related websites and links http://www.craigsmullins.com/rellinks.htm
Head-to-Head OpenSource RDBMS's http://www.geocities.com/mailsoftware42/db/
Problems with Oracle http://www.thedailywtf.com/forums/25910/ShowPost.aspx
Performance Considerations http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,3959,293,00.asp
Oracle's oracle Tom http://asktom.oracle.com/pls/ask/f?p=4950:8:::::F4950_P8_DISPLAYID:1886476148373
MySQL Review http://www.devx.com/dbzone/Article/20743/1954?pf=true
MySql V Oracle v PostgreSQL http://www-css.fnal.gov/dsg/external/freeware/mysql-vs-pgsql.html
Windows desktop databases http://www.paragoncorporation.com/ITConsumerGuide.aspx?ArticleID=1
Data Warehousing http://www.coffingdw.com/consultingindustry.asp