Windows Server vs. Windows Desktop

1. What is a server, and how is it different from a regular computer? How would you describe this difference to a friend who doesn’t know much about computers?

   • A standard computer (workstation) is designed to be used by a single end-user at a time. It is geared towards helping the human user. A server is a computer designed to work with other computers. It connects  workstations, passes and stores data for the other computers. It also houses programs and services such as printer firmware that the workstations can access, rather than having those programs stored on each workstation. 

2. How does the way Windows Server receives updates differ from Windows Home and Pro?

   • Windows Server allows more control over updates, especially allowing administrators to choose not only when, but if, to download and install those updates. Windows home and Pro update automatically, and often at the most inconvenient times, it seems. 

3. Does Windows Server have different hardware requirements than Windows Home or Pro?

   • I wouldn't say that it has different requirements so much as that it allows for more robust hardware systems. Server can be installed on a workstation, but would lose much of it's potential power. It can support use of significantly more RAM, more processors and many more CPU cores. 

Source:How-to-Geek