PCWorld.com - Should Your Next PC Be a Workstation?

PCWorld.com - Should Your Next PC Be a Workstation?: "Should Your Next PC Be a Workstation?

Despite sub-$1000 prices, the answer still depends on what apps you run.
David Essex
From the October 2004 issue of PC World magazine
Posted Thursday, September 02, 2004

Until recently, workstation meant a pricey power system that graced the desk of an engineer, a graphics designer, or a professional video editor. But astute PC shoppers who see workstations following conventional desktop PCs down past the $1000 barrier are asking: Should I buy a workstation instead?
The answer: Get one only if you run industrial-strength programs that need high-end graphics and performance, and if you're willing to pay extra for fail-safe reliability. Workstations remain special-purpose systems that contain souped-up hardware and undergo extensive testing, which costs a premium. But with that premium down to a few hundred bucks, the choice really depends on your needs.
It's easy to find affordable, introductory workstations that run Windows. Both Dell and Hewlett-Packard market Windows XP-based workstations starting at under $1000 and stretching to about $3500; IBM's offerings cost only a few hundred dollars more. Midrange ($3000 to $10,000) and high-end units typically have bigger cases than PCs, more memory and PCI slots, and more drive bays, making frequent upgrades easy.
Power, Redundancy
Most workstations have error-checking and -correcting memory that won't drop the occasional bit--a flaw unnoticeable in fast-moving games but disastrous when calculating jet aircraft tolerances. These units have larger power supplies and better, quieter fans to avoid overheating.
Even some entry-level workstations support dual CPUs,"