The latest versions of Windows servers add powerful functionality to web hosting, including .NET technology, Microsoft SQL databases and Active Server Pages (ASP) scripting. Although traditionally dismissed as inferior to their Unix-based counterparts, Windows servers are gaining in popularity, and some studies claim that, despite the initial cost of the software, their TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) is lower. If you're thinking about a dedicated server hosting solution and have never used a UNIX operating system, Windows-based hosting could well be the answer.