Technical information

Reviewer’s Guide Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 3.51 16
Appendix A
Windows NT Workstation And Windows 95
Today, Microsoft’s strategy is to offer two complementary operating systems to meet the broad needs of our
customers, from those using notebook PCs to those using high-end workstations. Windows 95 is designed to run on
legacy systems and provide maximum application compatibility. Windows NT Workstation is designed to provide
the highest level of robustness and protection on higher end hardware systems.
Our goal is to provide maximum compatibility between the two operating systems, and in the future, as entry-level
hardware capabilities catch up, to merge the two into a single kernel. At the current time it is not possible to have one
operating system that meets all customer needs.
The Windows 95 operating system is designed primarily for sub-notebook and entry-level desktop machines. It is
designed to deliver responsive performance for a broad range of applications while conserving system resources.
Windows NT Workstation is an excellent choice for those with high-end desktop PCs (with 12–16MB RAM on a
486, Pentium™– or RISC–based processor) already in place. It is designed to provide maximum reliability and
eliminate resource limitations, while maintaining excellent application compatibility and performance.
Both Windows 95 and Windows NT Workstation offer customers ease of use, power, connectivity, and
manageability. The same applications run across both platforms, which helps to preserve software investment and to
simplify training. To decide which operating system is right for your organization, you should evaluate the kind of
work you are doing and the hardware you have in place.
Windows 95
Windows 95 focuses on making computing easier for anyone using a wide range of personal and business
applications on desktop and portable computers. To help protect current investments, Windows 95 provides the
highest level of compatibility with today's applications and device drivers.
Windows 95 provides a new user interface that is easy to learn and use for new users and makes it easier to perform
common tasks for all users. It also includes built-in capabilities such as electronic mail and remote connectivity,
which makes it easy to access the information users need.
You can take advantage of new 32-bit applications or run your existing 16-bit Windows–based applications with
equal if not better performance on Windows 95. And, because Windows 95 supports Plug and Play technology, it
can greatly simplify installing additional plug and play compatible devices such as modems, printers, and scanners.
Windows NT Workstation
Windows NT Workstation focuses on providing the most powerful desktop operating system for demanding business
needs with the highest level of protection and reliability. It delivers the highest level of performance for those using
financial and business operations applications, developers, and technical and engineering users.
Also, because Windows NT Workstation runs both 16- and 32-bit applications in separate memory spaces, it
provides the highest level of reliability, protection, and security for business-critical applications.
Shared architecture provides maximum flexibility
Major operating system developers – including Microsoft, IBM, Sun (and most UNIX vendors), and Novell – are
moving to a micro– kernel architecture in their leading-edge operating systems most likely due to the need for rapid
changes in new enterprise solutions.
Microsoft made this commitment more than five years ago and began shipping Windows NT beta code to developers
in July 1992. Windows NT fully exploits this micro-kernel architecture allowing vendors to enhance systems to
respond to rapidly changing requirements, while maintaining flexibility to exploit new hardware and peripherals.