Technical information

Reviewer’s Guide Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 3.51 17
Because both Windows NT Workstation and Windows 95 share the same Win32 API, developers can write a single
application that runs on both operating systems.
Windows NT Workstation version 3.51 supports common controls and dialogs in Windows 95, allowing customers
to run the majority of Windows 95 – compatible applications on Windows NT Workstation.
In addition, Microsoft plans to ship a new version of Windows NT Workstation with a Windows 95–compatible user
interface, as soon after Windows 95 ships as possible. Microsoft is committed to resolving any differences between
the two systems that would prevent users from being able to deploy the same applications across both platforms. This
decision saves development time while providing the same capabilities for a broad range of hardware systems. And it
can also save training costs because your users can use the same application on multiple platforms.
Match the operating system to the task and hardware
The choice of platforms should be based on the tasks involved and the hardware you have in place. Windows NT
Workstation and Windows 95 provide a complementary set of capabilities that can accommodate a broad range of
tasks. Here are some guidelines for matching the operating system to the needs of your organization:
General office tasks
Windows 95 is the best choice for users who perform general tasks such as word processing, database queries, or
spreadsheet analysis, using productivity applications such as Microsoft Office Standard or Professional. Windows 95
supports both 16- and 32-bit versions of these applications as well as applications specific to your particular
business. It also supports popular hardware and network systems to preserve your existing investment.
Remote computing
Windows 95 is the best choice for employees who spend a good part of their working hours away from the office at a
customer site, on the road, or out in the field. Windows 95 meets these mobile users’ requirements for application
and device compatibility, and demands less memory, battery power, and disk space.
Mission-critical applications
Windows NT Workstation is the best choice for tasks that require high levels of system availability, security, and
performance such as customer service, manufacturing operations, and financial analysis. Every minute of downtime
means lost revenue and high support costs.
Windows NT Workstation allows every application to run in a separate address space, creating a fire wall between
them. Even if one application fails, the others continue to run. In the unlikely event of a failure, the system will
automatically recover.
Sensitive data applications
Windows NT Workstation is the right choice for industries, such as banking and defense, that need to protect
sensitive data or application files. The Windows NT file system, combined with appropriate security access controls,
helps prevent lost data due to user error or malicious tampering. A Windows NT Workstation-based system can even
be shared by multiple users and still maintain security for all files on the system.
Technical tasks
Windows NT Workstation is an ideal choice for engineers, scientific researchers, statisticians, and other technical
users who often need to use processing-intensive applications for data analysis and large design activities. You can
run and integrate your technical applications with productivity applications such as Microsoft Excel and Word on the
same machine.
Windows NT Workstation also supports SMP and is portable to a variety of high-performance platforms, including
those based on Pentium, Alpha AXP

, or MIPS processors. As a result Windows NT Workstation can deliver the
performance of a leading-edge workstation or minicomputer at a fraction of the cost.