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[AArdvark]

@Weaver,

You will know how good VMS was in its own niche. 
It was the first non-PC OS I came across.

I would love to play with the old Oses on modern faster kit of today, it would be fun.

[Weaver]

@Aardvark - I should take this off-topic but alluring subject elsewhere, but VMS was indeed gorgeous. Rock solid is indeed the word. An example of serious quality standards to the devs in some of Microsoft, Google and Adobe’s teams whose approach to writing code is mirthful. DCL, loved it.

[AArdvark]

@Aardvark - I should take this off-topic but alluring subject elsewhere, but VMS was indeed gorgeous. Rock solid is indeed the word. An example of serious quality standards to the devs in some of Microsoft, Google and Adobe’s teams whose approach to writing code is mirthful. DCL, loved it.

Love the quote  .... emphasis mine 
Made my day, absolutely true.

[Dray]

http://windowsitpro.com/windows-client/windows-nt-and-vms-rest-story

[AArdvark]

http://windowsitpro.com/windows-client/windows-nt-and-vms-rest-story

Thanks muchly.
Never seen that before, although I have a vague memory of there being a VMS connection to NT.

I am currently looking at all the *now* HP stuff re: OpenVMS supporting systems etc
[Real 'techno-pron' if you like good OS that work ]
I will stop side-tracking my own thread.
(Still good though ! )

[tickmike]

PCLinuxOS for me, my wife and my daughter.

 I tried Eric's simple instructions from this and used it ever since.
 http://forum.kitz.co.uk/index.php/topic,1217.msg43212.html#msg43212

I use it on Desktops, Laptops, and  a 'NAS' and 'Backup server' (using a cut down version I have done.)

www.pclinuxos.com

www.pclosmag.com/index.html

[AArdvark]

PCLinuxOS for me, my wife and my daughter.

 I tried Eric's simple instructions from this and used it ever since.
 http://forum.kitz.co.uk/index.php/topic,1217.msg43212.html#msg43212

I use it on Desktops, Laptops, and  a 'NAS' and 'Backup server' (using a cut down version I have done.)

www.pclinuxos.com

www.pclosmag.com/index.html

Thanks, I am coming round to the idea to just go with anyone for now.
Revive the old skills and keep a Windows 7 VM for when I must use it.
I am still the official support provider for family & friends because 'you worked with Computers ......' 
That may mean that I need to have a Win 10 VM as well.  

[sheddyian]

To join this thread's meanderings together, how about emulating a Vax and running VMS on a Raspberry Pi under Debian (Raspbian) Linux?

http://www.recondite-computers.co.uk/openvms-and-simh/

My background is in VMS, I keep wondering about trying this, but really not sure what I'd use it for.  (Editing files, probably - I still miss the EDIT/TPU editor).

Ian

[AArdvark]

I read about this many many years ago where the emulation worked but was not very fast on average hobbyist kit.

The key question is what would you use it for ?
If you read up on the current OpenVMS on the HP site it is really a 'blast from the past'.
They have tried to modernise it by porting stuff over from the UNIX/Linux world and update DCL to match, but it still looks like a bit of a kludge.
But if the code quality is still up to the old standards 'it will work', end of.

Still would be fun and you would get very few people able to hack an 'emu-VAX' (c) running OpenVMS networked via DECnet. 
You would probably have more luck aiming at the Linux platform underneath. 

[AArdvark]

Should we ask Kitz for a DEC/VMS section for the 'VMS Appreciation Society' we appear to have found hiding in plain sight? 
For the ultimate crossover we could include the DEC Alpha & Tru64 UNIX (I knew it as Digital Unix! ).

I must stop side-tracking this thread  ..... so sorry. 

[Weaver]

Ask someone to split it off, so that the VMS-Porn can continue happily. And I miss EVE (edit/tpu). Wrote an awful lot of assembler src in it.

[AArdvark]

To return to the original question:

I have just installed 'Elementary' in a VM.
Very pretty 
Nice to look at and quite usable.
Still had the 'usual printer problem' you always get  BUT to give Kudos to Brother they had a Linux Driver available that works very well & was easy to find.
In fact I had just received an update to the firmware in the Printer today from them as well. (HL-3150CDW)
(Very nice software that automatically updates the Drivers & Firmware when new versions are published. .... It does ask nicely first as well  )

My sticking point at the moment is the lack of all my add-ons in firefox. Some of them, ignoring the security stuff, are really useful and there are no add-ons in Linux. 

Update:
Blind as a bat missed setting the menu bar in Firefox to give me access to the usual options, all working wonderfully with all my favourite add-ons. 
Elementary is looking a very nice and pretty front-end, very usable.
Already use Thunderbird for my mail, learnt my lesson with .pst files  , so no problems there.

On a different planet to Windows 10 and usable from the get go.

An object lesson in how to make the migration a smooth and mostly painless one.
Yes, I know it is Ubuntu with tweaks but it is good enough for now. 

Even the most 'Luddite, Technically challenged users' could handle this and be productive in minutes.
(I may have a few of those I support due to familial obligations [Meant in jest for anyone reading this! ] )

[licquorice]

If you want to try an alternative mail client, have a look at Claws Mail.

[roseway]

I second the above. Claws Mail is a very nice lightweight mail client, and with a couple of plugins it has all the features I want. I use the Fancy HTML viewer plugin (which does what it says) and the Notification plugin (which provides the system tray features amongst other things).

[AArdvark]

licquorice & roseway,

Will have a look.

Although Thunderbird works for me and I am used to it.
(I am turning into a old stick in the mud ..... Arrrgh! )