A personal computer with a Central Processing Unit, or CPU (containing a hard drive, RAM memory, a floppy disk drive, and in some cases a CD-ROM drive), a monitor, keyboard, and mouse. If a workstation were disconnected from the network, it could still operate as an independent computer, in contrast to dumb terminals which are capable only of displaying information sent from a mainframe computer.
A workstation is a client computer (stand alone machine) on a (Local Area Network) or Wide Area Network that is used to run applications and is connected to a server from which it obtains data shared with other computers. Workstation is also used to describe a high-performance PC that uses a high-performance microprocessor and proprietary architecture to create what some call an "open" system.
