How do Unix and VMS compare?

[Sean Casey]

	A discussion arose the other day about the relative advantages
	of running Unix vs. VMS on a Vax 11/750. I'm interested in
	knowing the consensus among net users (ignoring obvious selection
	effects.) 
	Arguments in favor of VMS were...

		o FORTRAN runs faster under VMS
		(I don't know how FORTRAN under VMS compares to C under
		Unix??)

		o VMS runs faster than Unix in a multiuser environment.

		o One can always run a Unix emulator under VMS for
		those users who prefer Unix.
		(Why is there no VMS emulator under Unix?)

	In favor of Unix...

		o A nearby SUN workstation running Unix would be
		easier to interface if the Vax ran Unix too.
		( What is the status of VMS to Unix communications?)

		o Most software would be developed by students who
		would rather use C than FORTRAN. ( C scores high as
		a structured language.)

		o Unix is such fun!

	I would appreciate hard numbers on how VMS and Unix compare
	along with suggestions on the criterion for choosing one
	system over another. Please reply via mail and I will post the
	results to the net.
	Sean Casey		|| University of Chicago
 	...!ihnp4!oddjob!sean	|| Dept of Astronomy and Astrophysics