Computer
Hardware Question 12: What is a workstation?
Answer: As PCs and the internet have become more
popular, their use has expanded beyond their traditional role for word
processing and simple data management. Some manufacturers have designed very
powerful microcomputers that have taken over some of the more complex data
management tasks that were formerly reserved for mainframes and minicomputers.
These more powerful microcomputers have come to be called workstations
(see computer hardware questions 8 through 12 for information about the different types of computers).
Workstations are microcomputers in that they are based on a microprocessor.
And, like other microcomputers, they are designed to be used by one person at a
time. However, workstations are usually faster than PCs, often have more
storage then PCs, and may use more complex and powerful operating systems than
PCs. Workstations are often used for scientific tasks or for managing detailed
design and graphics tasks. Often they are used as multiprocessing
machines: that is, because they are fast and use a powerful operating system,
they can be used to carry out more than one type of data-processing task at the
same time.
