LINQ defines standard query operators that allow code written in LINQ-enabled languages to filter, enumerate, and create projections of several types of collections using the same syntax. Such collections may include arrays, enumerable classes, XML, datasets from relational databases, and third party data sources. The LINQ project uses features of version 2.0 of the .NET Framework, new LINQ-related assemblies, and extensions to the C# and Visual Basic .NET languages. Microsoft has distributed a preview release of LINQ, consisting of those libraries and compilers for C# 3.0 and Visual Basic 9. Other languages, such as F# and Nemerle, have also announced preliminary support.

SQLServer.NET data provider is high-speed and robust, but requires SQL Server license purchased from Microsoft. OLE-DB.NET is universal for accessing other sources, like Oracle, DB2, Microsoft Access and Informix.  OLE-DB.NET is a .NET layer on top of the OLE layer, so it's not as fastest and efficient as SqlServer.NET.

Presentation (UI), Business (logic and underlying code) and Data (from storage or other sources).

SharePoint Portal Services (SPS) has MUCH better document management. It has check-in,
check-out, versioning, approval, publishing, subscriptions, categories, etc. STS does not have
these features, or they are very scaled back. SharePoint team Services (SPS) has a better search
engine, and can crawl multiple content sources. STS cannot. STS is easier to manage and much
better for a team environment where there is not much Document Management going on. SPS is
better for an organization, or where Document Management is crucial.

An API for database-independent connectivity between the J2EE platform and a wide range of data sources.

Replication Service: SQL Server 2000 replication enables sites to maintain multiple copies of data on different computers, in order to improve overall system performance, while ensuring that all the different copies are kept synchronized. DTS: By using DTS, you can build data warehouses and data marts in SQL Server by importing and transferring data from multiple heterogeneous sources interactively or automatically on a regularly scheduled basis. Analysis Services: Analysis Services provides tools for analyzing the data stored in data warehouses and data marts. Metadata services: SQL Server Meta Data Services provides a way to store and manage metadata about information systems and applications. This technology serves as a hub for data and component definitions, development and deployment models, reusable software components, and data warehousing descriptions. Reporting services: used to generate reports from the data in the database