The download is 150MB for Win32 and 200MB for Linux. So it does fir on
a CD, three times over. It is still >20x bigger than Firebird

The release notes are interesting:
- it says SQL is not supported. Really! (probably a typo)
- CLR integration is supported
- JVM integration is not supported
- most 'automatic management' tools are excluded

So, in Oracle's perception Java is a bigger threat than .NET. Or do
they want to ride on the publicity wave that MS will undoubtedly
unleash?

Also, in their world, excluding automatic management will make the
thing more attractive to students, evaluators and mid-market users.