<div>
Active directory limits you to windows server 2008 standard or r2 standard
</div>


<div>
just to be sure, i m not looking for ability to host active directory<br />
but rather joining an existing domain on a network
</div>


<div>
You still need a server and client access licenses for terminal services
</div>


<div>
as i am reading intuit doesnt support windows home server so -1
</div>


<div>
Intuit also only supports a special version of quickbooks on terminal server.<br />
<br />
I would use server 2008 r2 std. &nbsp;That will join AD and easily handle Office 2003/2007.<br />

</div>


<div>
thanks@ CarlWebster , my company is paying lots of money right now just to have that special version<br />
<br />
<br />
my last question i have to ask<br />
is there any flavor of windows 7 that can act as a terminal server, with CALs and everything.<br />
or is terminal server (now renamed) is reserved for well, server windows (windows 2003, windows 2008,etc)
</div>


<div>
No Windows 7 is a Client Operating system
</div>


<div>
sorry one more question<br />
<br />
would microsoft windows 2008 foundation an OS to consider for the tasks above?(first question)<br />
<br />
ive read an article date 2009 that foundation can be mistaken for an april fool's joke but i have to ask maybe &nbsp;its an option <br />
<br />

</div>


<div>
I have never seen Foundation but i doubt it has TS/RDS capability.
</div>


<div>
Limitations: it is only available from OEMs and is limited to one processor socket.
</div>


<div>
does one processor socket mean no multi core, ie intel i5
</div>


<div>
No. &nbsp;Ms does socket, not cores. &nbsp;If they had a 256 core processor it would be supported.
</div>


<div>
<div class="content wysiwyg-content">
im lookign for cheapest way to run x64 bit system (windows based)<br />
<br />
would that be <br />
<br />
windows 7 pro x64<br />
or window home server 2011<br />
wimdows server 2008 sp2<br />
<br />
<br />
what i need is <br />
<br />
-x64 system that can run terminal services server(allow computers to remote connect to the server to run intuit quickbooks application in an rdp window)<br />
-system that can handle 8gb of memory and more if such a need rises. <br />
-system can join an active directory<br />
-system that can run microsoft office 2003/2007<br />
<br />
i am familiar with windows 7 first hand, but im not sure 100% that windows 7 can be used as a terminal server<br />
<br />
ive only read and heard about windows home server , is that like windows 7 starter edition?<br />
<br />
windows 2008 server is guaranteed option here, but id rather ask , maybe i can save a buck
</div>
</div>


im lookign for cheapest way to run x64 bit system (windows based)

would that be 

windows 7 pro x64
or window home server 2011
wimdows server 2008 sp2


what i need is 

-x64 system that can run terminal services server(allow computers to remote connect to the server to run intuit quickbooks application in an rdp window)
-system that can handle 8gb of memory and more if such a need rises. 
-system can join an active directory
-system that can run microsoft office 2003/2007

i am familiar with windows 7 first hand, but im not sure 100% that windows 7 can be used as a terminal server

ive only read and heard about windows home server , is that like windows 7 starter edition?

windows 2008 server is guaranteed option here, but id rather ask , maybe i can save a buck

cheapest windows/x64/terminal server/8gb +ram OS

The Microsoft Server topic includes all of the legacy versions of the operating system, including the Windows NT 3.1, NT 3.5, NT 4.0 and Windows 2000 and Windows Home Server versions.

Microsoft Server OS

Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2, based on the Microsoft Vista codebase, is the last 32-bit server operating system released by Microsoft. It has a number of versions, including including Foundation, Standard, Enterprise, Datacenter, Web, HPC Server, Itanium and Storage; new features included server core installation and Hyper-V.

Windows Server 2008

Windows 7 is an operating system from Microsoft. Features include multi-touch support, a redesigned Windows Shell with a new taskbar, referred to as the Superbar, a home networking system called HomeGroup, and performance improvements.