Compare these two queries:
select b.prod_name, b.prod_category, a.transaction_amt, a.transaction_dt
from transactions a, prod_xref b
where a.prod_id = b.id
VS.
select b.prod_name, b.prod_category, a.transaction_amt, a.transaction_dt
from transactions a
inner join b.prod_xref b on a.prod_id = b.id
Is the first query still slower than the second? What are the benefits / disadvantages of using a cartesian join vs an explicit join statement?