Steve Jones (Blog – @way0utwest) shares he found a post confirming Microsoft’s intention to deliver a Service Pack 4 for SQL Server 2005! Cool. Thanks for responding to the community, Microsoft.
When SQL Server 2005 was released, the community told Microsoft 5 years was too long to wait for a new release of SQL Server. Since they released SQL Server 2008 – less than three years after the release of SQL Server 2005 – the community has repeatedly communicated this was too soon.
I think both are accurate: for some folks, three years is too soon. For others, five years is too long.
Which describes you?
:{> Andy
4 years? Just joking.
I think that with releases approximately 3 years apart it becomes more feasible for companies and individuals to "skip" a generation if they are the type that likes slower release cycles (i.e. 5 year life cycles). If you or your company are more into learning the latest technologies and utilizing the full power of these emerging technologies, then the 3 year life cycle is probably more to your liking. Personally, I like the 3 year cycle. But then, I also enjoy spending some of my free time reading sql tech books… so perhaps I’m not the best person to ask 🙂
I agree – Some feel 3 years is too soon and 5 years is too long. So let’s go with 4 years!
Actually, my preference would be for Microsoft to have a clear picture of the improvements and updates it wants to make for the next release, project a time frame in which they can make the updates, then release when it’s ready. I would much rather have a well-tested, stable release we can count on then just pushing out whatever they have (or may not have ready) on a certain time frame.