Linux Desktop versus Server

[cKGunslinger]

Since I replaced my wife's desktop with a new laptop, I was going to turn her PC into our network file server (about 1.5TB,) stripping out the video card and using onboard.

I pretty much just slap the latest Linux Mint on all our machines, but is there any real advantage to installing a server OS instead? I just expect the PC to be on 24/7, serving media and data to our network (non-raided) and off-loading my tv torrent downloader, and all the miscellaneous scripts that currently run on my PC (media file renaming and moving, backups, etc.) Maybe even a proxy/filtering software. Some of the tools are java-based gui apps, so I'm guessing I'll want an xserver/display running, if only a minimal one.

Any real issue with just putting Mint 9 Desktop on it? Maybe the LXDE version?

 

[lxskllr]

I don't think so. The server version would have fewer desktop things, but a desktop version should be more familiar to you at the cost of a bit of hd space.

 

[lord_emperor]

You can always disable the GUI when it's not needed.

 

[cKGunslinger]

I guess my main concern was maybe server versions had different kernel configurations or something. I really want a set-it-and-forget server, and it sounds like a regular desktop would be OK for that, and any filtering/proxy would be add-on software.