The previous release of SQL Server, SQL Server 2005, was a major release. It contained a ton of new functionality, including the revision of major query-processing components within the database engine. With SQL Server 2008, the development cycle was much shorter, and the changes are not quite as dramatic. Even though the overall quantity of changes is less than those in SQL Server 2005, the improvements that were made in this new release are specific and significant, and they will absolutely be of value to your organization.