> In both cases I would recommend using a join based syntax as in:

> SELECT x.A, y.B
> FROM TABLEX x
> JOIN TABLEY y WHERE Y.B = X.A

This has actually been a bone of contention between me and another
developer, re what the best way to do joins are.

I had been under the impression that

'select x.a, y.b from tablex x, tabley y where y.b = x.a' is equivalant,
both in terms of result set and in terms of execution speed as the join
statement listed above. At least, it's the way I've been doing joins for
years now.

Is there a functional/speed/etc difference between the two types of joins
(Explicit using the join statement, vs implicit using the associated table
aliases)?

- Jason

PS - Please no "Because it's more clear" arguments.. I'm looking for real
technical differences.