With workstation one marks one - in the comparison to the normal IBM PC - particularly efficient personal computer for use by a person. Typically workstations are used for fastidious technical-industrial applications, contrary to the range of the applications of offices, which captured IBM PC. Usually workstations within the range diagram representation, arithmetic performance, storage location and/or multitasking furnish above average results.

The term is not synonymous with personal computer. A workstation is, like a home computer, a personal computer, but not each personal computer is a workstation. Since however home computers are likewise very efficient nowadays and are used increasingly in the technical-industrial range, the borders between home computers and workstation smear ever more. In addition a frequent practice comes in computer marketing a Desktop computer by the term workstation a particularly efficient painting to give.

The characteristic for a user an important distinction was historical to the usual time sharing systems. Instead of being connected with a computer by a terminal, whose computing time one had to divide, exclusively a computer was to engineer or scientist with a workstation at the disposal. In addition came that it was possible with omission of the terminal connection, directly tied up, to place more efficient diagram systems on the Desktop to the order. Thus straight visualization possibilities completely new for technical-industrial applications opened. Before this background also the high-quality large sized screens typical for workstations are to be seen.

Workstations developed then in the 80's to their own computer form. Not least by the large workstation manufacturers of this time (SGI, NEXT one etc.), succeeded to point the advantages of a workstation to those out in relation to time sharing systems. In addition the idea of the Client/server Computing came to the time, in which workstations have a place as Client likewise. Many this manufacturer disappeared today from the market. Among other things also therefore, since home computers continue to penetrate ever into the traditional ranges of application of workstations.

The reliability of a workstation must be paid usually expensively. Workstations are typically both regarding their hardware and their software particularly durably laid out. This has itself on the one hand resulted in from its origin (minicomputer for a user), on the other hand also from typical applications, with which reliability is in demand. The most usual operating system for a workstation is one of the many Unixvarianten with a X11-Grafiksystem. PC operating systems (e.g. Windows) continue to penetrate also here.

Ergonomics was not for workstations at the beginning large topic. The price for the arithmetic performance directly locally large equipment racks, loud of exhaust noises and (despite diagram system) an operation were predominant over the command line. Modern workstation hardware is to be differentiated from the outside hardly still from home computer hardware to. Classical Unix Desktops, which has to owe their existence to the workstations, points clear deficits to PC-Desktops. Also with modern Unix Desktops partially still pent-up demand exists. A reason for this pent-up demand may be that eingefleischte workstation users swear on the operation over the command line and therefore the need for a Desktop is somewhat smaller.

In the modern versions of the different Unix derivatives such as Linux, FreeBSD, Mac OS X etc. succeed ever more Desktopsysteme, which are inferior to an Windows operating system in modernity, ergonomics and feature in nothing, even within many ranges outriders already are, if it of adequacy (usability), efficiency during the operation and fortschritliches Design are a matter. Examples for this are among other things KDE and GNOMES.

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