How good is windows Server 2008?

[rimmi2002]

Hi I am a long time XP user. Never went to Vista cause never liked it. My XP is breaking down. I need to either re-install it or install something new.

Recently I got a free copy of Windows Server 2008 through my school and wanted to know if I should go ahead and use that. Are there any advantages/disadvantages of the server edition? Is it more stable than vista. I heard it is built on the vista architecture. Any help will be much apprecaited. Thanks.

 

[Jeff7181]

If you never went to Vista, how do you know whether you like it or not?

Anyway... there shouldn't be any problems running Server 2008 as a desktop OS. Go for it.

 

[rimmi2002]

Originally posted by: Jeff7181
If you never went to Vista, how do you know whether you like it or not?

Anyway... there shouldn't be any problems running Server 2008 as a desktop OS. Go for it.

Have tried it on my bro comp and many other friend's comp and never liked...all them returned to XP after using it for a while.

 

[slugg]

I'm using Server 2008 Standard as a desktop OS. There are some things you gotta do to make it work like a normal desktop OS, but those fixes are easily found on google. All in all, I'd say it's very speedy - definitely faster than my XP Pro install on the same computer. The new start menu is simply AWESOME. Plus, there are all sorts of terminal services that are very nice to have that are included with Server 2008.

 

[techie81]

Server 2008 is basically Vista with some services disabled. It does have some performance advantages from what I hear but don't be disappointed when it looks and feels like Vista.

 

[j0j081]

I used it for a couple months but ended up going back to Vista. It is faster in some things but slower in others so I decided the added work required to get everything the way I wanted wasn't worth it. Here is the best site to look at if you are considering using it as a workstation OS.

http://www.win2008workstation.com/wordpress/

 

[Griffinhart]

When tweaked for desktop use, Win2k8 server is pretty much Vista with server capabilities. My personal experience has been that performance of 2008 and Vista were identical, though Vista does boot a little faster.

If you have a free copy of 2008, I don't think I'd say go out and buy a copy of Vista, but if you have both, I think Vista is the better choice. Even if only for software compatibility. Many applications will not run on a server based OS and require you to buy more expensive versions. This is especially true of Anti-Virus software and 3rd parth backup software/services. For example, you can't use Muzy's consumer online backup service under 2008 server and instead much use the much more expensive Pro version.

 

[rudder]

Originally posted by: slugg
I'm using Server 2008 Standard as a desktop OS. There are some things you gotta do to make it work like a normal desktop OS, but those fixes are easily found on google. All in all, I'd say it's very speedy - definitely faster than my XP Pro install on the same computer. The new start menu is simply AWESOME. Plus, there are all sorts of terminal services that are very nice to have that are included with Server 2008.

But there are still some things it can't do... like run a good decent free anti virus program. And there are some driver issues (minor). Overall its nice... but I can hardly tell a difference between it and Vista. Other than the fact that when you install certain software packages... Server 2008 will be recognized as a server OS and you will either have to get the high $$$ package or pirate the software you need.

I ran it for a while... but eventually just went with Vista.

 

[Crusty]

It's not "pretty much is Vista" or "basically vista". Server 2008 and Vista SP1 are the SAME operating system with different default packages and different default settings. You WILL have problems installing certain consumer level tools as they will refuse to install because it's detected a Server OS instead of a Client OS, but mostly security related tools.

That being said, there's nothing stopping someone from using Server 2008 as a workstation OS, if you have the time to invest in tweaking it to become workable as a workstation OS.

 

[slugg]

The only issue I had was installing nod32. Two minutes of searching on google solved my problem. My "normal" version of nod32 is running just fine. As for free antivirus programs, I personally believe that a good antivirus is worth the money.

One nice thing for me is that I can use server08 to push an OS to my laptop, which doesn't have an optical drive. 99% of the population won't benefit from this, but it's a good thing for me!

Anyways, the main reason why I run server08 is because I got it for free via dreamspark. Vista is not free.

 

[rimmi2002]

Yeah I got it free too from Dreamspark so I wanted to use 2008. How are driver issues do most drivers for vista work for server 2008 or are there hiccups? Do most other software work fine other than anti-virus...in which case I'll have to get the server edition instead of the client. Any recc'd for best anti-virus/firewall combo. I have been using bitdefender in the past.

 

[rudder]

Originally posted by: rimmi2002
How are driver issues do most drivers for vista work for server 2008 or are there hiccups? Do most other software work fine other than anti-virus...in which case I'll have to get the server edition instead of the client. .

I used Vista video card drivers for my 2008 install... never had a game crash. My HP all-in-one printer on the other hand never worked right using vista drivers (no 2008 specific drivers). I could print fine... I just could not get it to scan anything. So regarding drivers it is hard to say.... hit or miss.

Software is hit or miss as well. PC Tools anti-virus installs easily under 2008... and its okay for basic protection. Photoshop ran fine, Nero was fine, lots of stuff. One software i had issue with was tunebite. Just did not work rightunder 2008.

 

[slugg]

I emailed Eset and told them I needed to upgrade my 2 year personal/educational license to a business license so I could use it on my Server 2008 OS. I made it very clear that it was for personal use and told them that I got the OS from Dreamspark. The response was to install Nod32 version 2.7 - it'll install without any hiccups. However, I was able to modify the Nod32 3.0 installer to install just fine, and that's what I'm running without any issues.

Drivers are the same as Vista. It was actually super easy. I'm glad that I didn't have to go through driver hell due to the fact that I'm running SATA hard drives - something XP didn't make so easy. Printer is working just fine, games are fine, etc.

For being free, I can't complain! I actually like it a lot. I've got Vista Business on my laptop and Server 08 on my desktop; it's a pretty comfortable setup.

 

[spittledip]

If you dont like Vista, you arent going to like server 2008. They are pretty much the same thing as far as the OS itself goes.

 

[KeypoX]

Originally posted by: rimmi2002
Hi I am a long time XP user. Never went to Vista cause never liked it. My XP is breaking down. I need to either re-install it or install something new.

Recently I got a free copy of Windows Server 2008 through my school and wanted to know if I should go ahead and use that. Are there any advantages/disadvantages of the server edition? Is it more stable than vista. I heard it is built on the vista architecture. Any help will be much apprecaited. Thanks.

Your school had nothing to do with getting it through dream. Elementary students can get it.

Advantages - all that vista has over xp
Disadvantage- its a server OS, not a desktop OS, takes more time to hack/convert it to a desktop OS and still isnt as good as vista.

It is as stable as vista minus, less driver support and other random issues.

 

[amddude]

I use 2k8 and there really isn't a performance difference. 2k8 does allow multiple remote sessions over rdp which is handy, as well as Hyper-V. If you don't care about either of those, it's really not worth the trouble. Driver support has been fine for me, never had a x64 vista driver that didn't work.