[naushniki]

Ironically, XP had issues with running legacy software back in the day, as it was the first NT-based OS targeted on desktop computers.

[laumars]

> [NT] was the first NT-based OS targeted on desktop computers

In the mainstream home computing sense, yes. But it wasn't the first NT-based OS to target desktop computers. Windows 2000 had a few desktop releases and was even available pre-installed in some high street computer stores. Also NT4 did have a "Workstation" release specifically for desktop computers albeit that was aimed at businesses.

Prior to NT4 I don't think there were separate desktop/server releases of NT but it did have enough software to run as a desktop if one wished. Though I think those people might have preferred OS/2 or Windows 3.1 instead (or a non-IBM PC; because there were plenty of options back then)

[EvanAnderson]

Every version of Windows NT (and later derivations) has had separate server and desktop-targeted releases going back to "Windows NT 3.1" and "Windows NT 3.1 Advanced Server".

[coredog64]

One could change an NT4 workstation install into a server install with one or two registry changes and a reboot.

There may have been a few binaries on the AS install media that were harder to come by, but in general the editions were licensing segments and not really different products.

[laumars]

Ahh. I wasn't sure about NT 3.1 as it's the only version of NT I've not had to manage. In fact quite possibly the only version of Windows I've never used even once.

[marcoseliziario]

it was the first NT based OS targeted at home users. At least on the places where I've worked, NT, since 4.0, was basically the default Windows OS for enterprises.

[chungus_khan]

A lot of small businesses used DOS/9x though, and boy did that generate work.

[decasteve]

For me that was NT service pack 3 which brought DirectX to NT. That way I was able to play Diablo on my workstation!