Features

Classic ASP

ASP.net

server-side scripting technology

YES

YES

Fully backward compatible with ASP

YES

NO. ASP.net is not fully backward compatible with ASP

Better language support

NO

YES. ASP.NET supports full Visual Basic, not VBScript. ASP.NET supports C# (C sharp) and C++.

Programmable controls

NO

YES. ASP.NET contains a large set of HTML controls. Almost all HTML elements on a page can be defined as ASP.NET control objects that can be controlled by scripts.

XML-based components

NO

YES.

Event-driven programming

NO

YES

User authentication, with accounts and roles

NO

YES. ASP.NET allows user accounts and roles, to give each user (with a given role) access to different server code and executables

Higher scalability

NO

YES.

Easier configuration and deployment

NO

YES.

Compiled Code

NO

YES. The first request for an ASP.NET page on the server will compile the ASP.NET code and keep a cached copy in memory. This will increase the performance.

Interpreted and Loosely-Typed Code

YES

YES. The first request for an ASP.NET page on the server will compile the ASP.NET code and keep a cached copy in memory.

Mixes layout (HTML) and logic (scripting code)

YES. ASP files frequently combine script code with HTML. This results in ASP scripts that are lengthy, difficult to read

NO.  Master pages allow you to create a consistent look and behavior for all the pages (or group of pages) in your web application.

A master page provides a template for other pages, with shared layout and functionality. The master page defines placeholders for the content, which can be overridden by content pages. The output result is a combination of the master page and the content page.

Development and Debugging Tools

Limited

Yes. Visual studio has its own powerful debugging tool.