Microsoft has Works.

Works included word processor, database, spreadsheet and a communication terminal. Linux has to replace it with a browser to communicate on the internet.

The combination can do anything server or desktop all within the browser environment. Meaning they are plug-ins to the browser, and they can import and export data among the software themselves.

I can do engineering model with such software defining purpose and goal in wordprocessor, if a model can be borrowed from some products in existance and its data sheet(database); just by refining some incremental numbers from a spreadsheet calculation. Research work can be done just with such a combination of software.

The difference of server and desktop application is whether you use the server as an online service with a large repository or use your own computer offline. It is a question of how big a computer we need. Novell network system is an example of how to use one software for both server and desktop.