Difference Between Workstation and Desktop

Workstation vs Desktop

The term workstation and desktop are often interchanged, especially in a work environment where both terms are used. A desktop is any computer that can be fit on top of a table or a desk. This was to differentiate against the older and bigger computers. A workstation is the term used for high end computers that are used for scientific or any other heavy usage application.

With the introduction of personal computers, the term desktop became very common because these computers can now fit on a desk. But since these computers were often too underpowered for use in some work environments, companies used computers that have better specifications. These computers were called workstations. Back then, it is quite easy to distinguish between a desktop and a workstation simply by the components installed.

Desktops filled the roles that the owner needs. It is usually used for gaming, word processing, as a media center, and a lot more. Workstations have a much bigger role to fulfill as they are intended to be used for CAD/CAM or for animations where the demands are really quite great. It is common for workstations to have multiple displays and even other input methods aside from the usual mouse and keyboard. The accessories that are attached to workstations are specific to the job that they perform while desktop computers tend to have a lot of accessories that are fully dependent on the discretion of the owner. These can range from high quality speakers and mixers down to programmable keyboards and controllers.

Although they were initially separated by their specifications, this gap has now been almost closed as it is not uncommon to see personal computers that rival the specifications of workstations. The price between high and low end components have also closed enough that most people who want the maximum performance for video processing or gaming can just dish out some extra cash. And computer parts manufacturers are more than willing to provide high end components to those who can afford them regardless of their actual needs.

Summary:
1.Just about any computer qualifies as a desktop while a workstation is one that is being used in a work environment
2.Desktops are basically used for any purpose like gaming or word processing while workstations are used for CAD/CAM or animating
3.Traditionally, Workstations have much higher specifications than desktops and a much higher price tag

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