.NET evolution

V1.0

Evolution

V1.1

list of version 1.1 are technologies that were already available as separate downloads such as the Oracle And ODBC .NET data providers and the ASP.NET mobile controls. In addition, the documentation has been revised and enriched with more examples and more clear explanations. If you look at the .NET Framework 1.1 from a technical point of view, you will not find many new features, but a lot of bug fixes and performance optimisations still make the new platform a recommended upgrade.

http://www.codeguru.com/Csharp/.NET/net_asp/miscellaneous/article.php/c5333/

V2.0

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/t357fb32.aspx
(What's New in the .NET Framework Version 2.0)

Microsoft is making you write as less code as possible "

this is the significant change when you go from 1.0 -> 1.1 -> 2.0

from 1.1 -> 2.0 more namespaces are added .

and concepts like remoting have inbuild security which was not there in 1.1
version.

C# 2 has more features like generics .

VB.NET - > in vs.net IDE when you load the VB.NET solution half of the
compiliation work is already done..

Webservices - 2.0 WSE enhancements..

ASP.NET has more controls and datagrid is not there in ASP.NET 2.0 but they
have a new control. which is better than datagrid.

V3.0

The .NET Framework 3.0 requires the .NET Framework 2.0 to be installed on the computer. If a user installs the .NET Framework 3.0 on a computer that does not have the .NET Framework 2.0, the .NET Framework 2.0 is installed automatically.
The following technologies are introduced with the .NET Framework 3.0:

Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF).
Windows Communications Foundation (WCF).
Windows Workflow Foundation (WF).
Windows Cardspace

V3.5

The .NET Framework version 3.5 builds upon versions 2.0 and 3.0 and their service packs. The .NET Framework version 3.5 Service Pack 1 updates version 3.5 assemblies and includes new service packs for versions 2.0 and 3.0. This topic briefly describes the relationship of the .NET Framework versions 2.0, 3.0, 3.5, and their service packs.

Relationship of the .NET Framework Versions 2.0, 3.0, and 3.5
The following are considered to be a part of the .NET Framework 3.5 SP1:
.NET Framework 2.0
.NET Framework 2.0 service packs 1 and 2, which update assemblies that are included in the .NET Framework 2.0.
.NET Framework 3.0, which uses the assemblies that exist in the .NET Framework 2.0 and its service packs, and includes the assemblies that are necessary for the technologies that are introduced in the .NET Framework 3.0. For example, PresentationFramework.dll and PresentationCore.dll, which are necessary for Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF), are installed with the .NET Framework 3.0.
.NET Framework 3.0 service packs 1 and 2, which update the assemblies that were introduced in the .NET Framework 3.0.
.NET Framework 3.5, which includes new assemblies that provide additional functionality to the .NET Framework 2.0 and 3.0.
.NET Framework 3.5 service pack 1, which updates assemblies that are included in the .NET Framework 3.5.

What Is Included in the .NET Framework 3.5 SP1
This section summarizes the technologies that are included in the .NET Framework version 3.5 SP1 and each framework version that it contains. This list is not exhaustive; it lists just some of the major technologies that ship in the .NET Framework.
.NET Framework 2.0
The following technologies shipped with the .NET Framework 2.0.
Common language runtime (CLR) and base class libraries.
Support for generic types and methods.
Compilers for C#, Visual Basic, C++, and J#.
ADO.NET.
ASP.NET.
Windows Forms.
Web services.
For a complete list of features new to the .NET Framework 2.0, see What's New in the .NET Framework Version 2.0.
NET Framework 2.0 SP 1 and SP 2
The .NET Framework 2.0 service pack 1 and service pack 2 update the CLR and several assemblies that shipped with the .NET Framework 2.0 and can be installed independent of the .NET Framework 3.5 SP1. Most of the updates to .NET Framework 2.0 are nonbreaking changes, but there are a few cases where new API elements are added or behavior has changed. If your application relies on changes that shipped with .NET Framework 2.0 SP 1 or SP 2, then you can have your application target the .NET Framework 2.0 and ask your customers to download the .NET Framework 2.0 SP 1 or SP 2. However, if your application relies on new or changed functionality, it is recommended that your application target the .NET Framework 3.5 or the .NET Framework Client Profile.
.NET Framework 3.0
The .NET Framework 3.0 requires the .NET Framework 2.0 to be installed on the computer. If a user installs the .NET Framework 3.0 on a computer that does not have the .NET Framework 2.0, the .NET Framework 2.0 is installed automatically.
The following technologies are introduced with the .NET Framework 3.0:
Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF).
Windows Communications Foundation (WCF).
Windows Workflow Foundation (WF).
For more information, see What's New in the .NET Framework Version 3.0.
.NET Framework 3.0 SP 1 and SP 2
The .NET Framework 3.0 service pack 1 and service pack 2 update several assemblies that shipped with the .NET Framework 3.0 and can be installed independent of the .NET Framework 3.5. The updates include nonbreaking changes, new API elements, and additional functionality to the technologies that shipped with .NET Framework 3.0. If your application relies on changes that shipped with .NET Framework 3.0 SP 1 or SP 2, then you can have your application target .NET Framework 3.0 and ask your customers to download the .NET Framework 3.0 SP 1 or SP 2. However, if your application relies on new or changed functionality, it is recommended that your application target the .NET Framework 3.5 or the .NET Framework Client Profile.
.NET Framework 3.5
The .NET Framework 3.5 introduces new features for the technologies in 2.0 and 3.0 and additional technologies in the form of new assemblies. The following technologies are introduced with the .NET Framework 3.5:
Language Integrated Query (LINQ).
New compilers for C#, Visual Basic, and C++.
ASP.NET AJAX.
For a complete list of features new to the .NET Framework 3.5, see What's New in the .NET Framework Version 3.5.
.NET Framework 3.5 SP1
The .NET Framework 3.5 service pack 1 updates several assemblies that shipped with .NET Framework 3.5. The updates include nonbreaking changes, new API elements, and additional functionality to the technologies that shipped with .NET Framework 3.5. The following technologies are included with the .NET Framework 3.5 SP1:
ASP.NET Dynamic Data.
ADO.NET Entity Framework.
Data provider support for SQL Server 2008.
Support for the .NET Framework Client Profile.
For a complete list of features new to the .NET Framework 3.5 SP1, see What's New in the .NET Framework Version 3.5 SP1.