How do Unix and VMS compare?

[dan at idis.UUCP]

Re: the notion that more software must be available for VMS than
for UNIX because there are more advertisements for VMS software.

VMS software is apparently more profitable than UNIX software.
There are more VMS VAXES than UNIX VAXES, but there are far
more UNIX machines than VMS machines.  It seems that software
publishers can get away with charging a lot more for VMS software
than for UNIX software.  Why?  Some possible explanations:

	1) Organizations that use VMS are used to spending more
	   for the same functionality and performance.
	   Universities are cheap.

	2) It is more difficult to make things work on VMS.
	   Therefore there is less potential competition.

	3) VMS users tend to be end users while UNIX users
	   tend to be capable of rolling their own applications.
	   VMS users need more hand holding.

	4) UNIX software tools and the flexible UNIX user-system
	   interface reduce the need for expensive software.
	   The rigid user-system interfaces one finds in commercial
	   operating systems like VMS creates an opportunity for
	   the commercial software developer.