I am looking for a honest comparison between Oracle 7.3 and SQL Server 6.5 or 7.0. I am currently in the process of selecting a database for a client server application and need the pros and cons of each from independent sources. I have had some training and experience with SQL Server and it seems quite capable of handling the problem at hand. Unfortunately I seem the be the only one. It seems when I mention the word database Oracle is the first word out. If I ask why, no one seems to know. What I'm looking for is the best database for the following situation. The best would also include cost effective(hardware and development), easiest to learn, easiest to maintain, easiest to migrate to (from VFP), easiest to integrate with (from the client's perspective), scalable, and be long term.

Currently we have VFP 5.0 app with a total database size of about 2 gigs. The application operates in about 80 offices each with database sizing from 2 gigs to 5 megs. Each office completes a daily data transfer to send and receive information across the WAN or through Dialup to synchronize the local site with the main database. I would like to have 20 WAN connected sites which hold the bulk of the data hit the one database, remove the uploading and downloading of information, the database maintenance, and the rest of the headaches of a distribuated micro database. The question is then what database best fits. The other 60 offices could continue to upload and download manually or take advantage of a new approach offline views or something. Any direction to information would be geatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance


Scott K