computerwoche.de

Archiv

Oracle users' gripes about support portal going unheeded

24.07.2009
Despite complaints from many users, Oracle is showing no signs it will reverse course on plans to shut down the venerable MetaLink support portal, long used by thousands of IT professionals around the world.

The software vendor is planning to replace MetaLink with My Oracle Support (MOS), a Web 2.0 and social-networking infused portal with a dynamic, Flash-based look.

Oracle has offered users an option of logging into "Classic MetaLink" or the new site, but it will soon be no more, despite outcry from many users who prefer the tried-and-true.

More than nostalgia is behind the complaints. Many Oracle users say the MOS interface's use of Flash, which is not installed on many corporate sites and client machines, makes it difficult for them to do their jobs and has resulted in sluggish performance.

The gripes have been rolling in for weeks on both Oracle's official and .

A started by Oracle DBA Jared Still has received more than 600 responses, with about 62 percent, or two-thirds, saying they preferred Classic MetaLink over MOS.