Reliable and Familiar
January 28, 2026

Reliable and Familiar

Anonymous | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User

Overall Satisfaction with Windows Server

We use Windows Server for almost all aspects of our infrastructure. Active Directory,, mail servers, file and print servers. With just a few exceptions where it made more sense to use ESXi and Linux on a few hosts, everything else is Windows Server. We've been using it since NT 4.0 and have used every version along the way up to 2025.

Pros

  • Runs on almost any hardware
  • Runs great in a VM
  • Well suited to almost any role

Cons

  • Update/patch installation
  • It's almost become an afterthought b/c it "just does what it should"
Anyone new to IT could easily use the familiar Desktop Experience (GUI) version because we all know how to use Windows, whether a client or server version.

Once an IT user is more comfortable with the operating system, they can move on to the Core version, which is the way to go in almost all situations.
Windows Server blows any of the Linux flavors I've used out of the water. Even after gaining experience with Linux, I'm able to achieve the same results in Windows Server from a command line much quicker than in Linux simply because Windows Server, especially with the maturation of PowerShell, has made the OS with IT workers in mind. Linux suffers from a broad management of the OS in being mostly open source.

ESXi is great for virtualization and after having used HyperV for some time I've realized that HyperV is perfect for smaller setups or individual VMs. ESXi on the other hand is better for large clusters. The downside to ESXi, of course, is the licensing and cost involved. That's another way that Windows Server beats it out.

Do you think Windows Server delivers good value for the price?

Yes

Are you happy with Windows Server's feature set?

Yes

Did Windows Server live up to sales and marketing promises?

Yes

Did implementation of Windows Server go as expected?

Yes

Would you buy Windows Server again?

Yes

Anytime I need a server for something, whether to test a new platform or app, devote a server to hosting something, etc., Windows Server is my go-to choice. Recently I needed a new server to host a web server and web application, so I spun up a Windows Server 2025 VM and was up and running in no time at all.

Windows Server Feature Ratings

Operating System
8.7
Resource Allocation
9
File Management
9
Hardware Device Management
9
Software Application Management
8
System Update Frequency
8
Operating System Security
9

Comments

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