Windows Server 2008 in ‘workstation’ mode – a suitable Vista replacement?

By Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Friday, 14 March 2008 07:34

Opinion and Analysis

Reports have emerged across the web of users transforming Windows Server 2008 into ‘workstation’ mode, effectively using it for desktop work instead of Windows Vista. Some reports suggest it’s much faster than Vista, while others say it shouldn’t make any difference.

Windows Server 2008 has impressed Microsoft network admin, developer and other high-level users with its flexibility, stability, feature set, compatibility with Vista drivers, and even components from Windows Vista.

Being a server oriented operating system, many of the consumer desktop features have been turned off by default, with options such as the Sidebar, Games Explorer and Windows Media Center not included with the OS, while other features such as Superfetch being turned off, and the OS set to favour background tasks instead of foreground application performance.

Unfortunately, Windows Server 2008 is much more expensive than Windows Vista, as it was never meant to be used as a desktop operating system – but reports are suggesting that even though both operating systems now have the same kernel (based on Vista SP1), Windows Server 2008 is up to 17% faster!

Many system administrators have access to the OS through their MSDN license, or received a copy at the recent “Heroes Happen Here” even to celebrate the launch of the new OS, and can happily play with and modify Windows Server 2008 into a desktop operating system.

Although using server versions of Windows as desktop/workstation versions over the years certainly isn’t new, the source of the latest drive to turn Windows Server 2008 into Windows Workstation Vista 2008 seems to have come from Microsoft employee Vijayshinva Karnure, in his blog “The Way I See It”.

Karnure works at Microsoft India, and in a blog entry called “Using Windows Server 2008 as a SUPER workstation OS”, and in a follow up “Cont’d” posting, he outlined what Server 2008 users need to do to enable all the Vista-esque workstation goodness.

Another website called “Convert your Windows Server 2008 to a Workstation!” offers a “Windows Server 2008 to Workstation Manual”.

Reasons why Server 2008 might be faster include the lack of DRM found in Vista, and the additional time (and incentive) Microsoft has had to get Server 2008 robust and fast, given the fact it is meant to be used in business environments which expect high-performance software and hardware.

So, is using Windows Server 2008 as a workstation faster than Windows Vista with SP1? Please read onto page 2.