Network file services make collaboration in the development of documents and projects possible. Each member of a project team can make contributions to a document or project through a shared network file service. In addition, network file services can enable the timely distribution of key files to a group of users who have an interest in that information. Finally, many people who are geographically separated can share games and entertainment. In addition to sharing computer files, networks enable users to share printing devices. Network print services can make a high-speed printer accessible to many users. This printer operates as if it was directly attached to individual computers. The network can send requests from many users to a central print server where these requests are processed. Multiple printer servers, each offering a different quality of output, can be implemented according to the requirements of users. Under administrative control, users can select the service they need for a particular job. In this way, networks provide a more efficient use of expensive printing devices without duplication.

All network operating systems offer file and print services. Sharing information, collaborating on projects, and providing access to input and output devices are common services of computer networks. In addition to sharing information and special devices, application programs such as word processing programs can be installed to a network server. Users can run the shared applications from a server without using space on their local hard disks for the program files.

Note: Although some applications can be accessed and run across the network without running the setup program on the local machines, this does not work for all applications. Many Windows applications must write initialization information to the Registry (a hierarchical database in which initialization information is saved on individual PCs). In this case, the setup program must be run on each local machine, but the program files can be installed to the network drive. This action saves disk space on the workstations.

The software vendors licensing agreement may require the purchase of additional licenses for each workstation that uses a network application, even though only one copy is actually installed and all users are accessing that same copy.