Inside SQL Server 2008: Learn More About SQL Server 2008
Even though SQL Server 2008 is not a revolutionary improvement -- certainly not to the extent that some earlier versions were -- there's a lot to learn about all the new and different features. Here's a list of resources that I've found useful in learning about 2008. A number of the members of the SQL Server team have blogs, many of which have some great nuggets of information. Many are geared for admins, but most have plenty of good information for developers. Here are a few worth checking out:
Carpe Datum: Data Flotsam and Jetsam by Buck Woody: http://blogs.msdn.com/buckwoody
SQL Server Storage Engine, a group blog by members of the storage engine team: http://blogs.msdn.com/sqlserverstorageengine
Microsoft SQL Server Development Customer Advisory Team, by the people who go out and solve customer problems: http://blogs.msdn.com/sqlcat
Laurentiu Cristofor's SQL Server Security Blog: http://blogs.msdn.com/lcris
SQL Server Engine Tips: Guidelines, Best Practices, TSQL and SQL Programming Tips & Tricks: http://blogs.msdn.com/sqltips
You can also find several handy non-Microsoft blogs. Some of the more prominent third-party blogs include:
SQLBlog.com. Some of the leading SQL Server experts on the planet blog here, including Kalen Delaney, Andy Leonard, Adam Machanic, and many others. There are other independent SQL Server blogs, but this blog is a great single-stop resource: http://sqlblog.com/default.aspx
Simple-Talk. Although Simple-Talk is affiliated with Red Gate Software Ltd., a commercial SQL Server and .NET tools vendor, the site has some great, free content from both Red Gate developers and others: www.simple-talk.com
Erland Sommarskog's Web Site. Erland Sommarskog is a SQL Server MVP and a fount of information. His Web site isn't a traditional blog, but is an outlet for many long articles he has written about SQL Server: www.sommarskog.se
Blogs aren't the only good sources of information on SQL Server 2008. You can also find a list of white papers here. This site is a great resource and includes papers that cover a variety of topics. Some are high-level marketing types of papers, but most have a good level of technical detail. Some are brand-new for 2008, while others are revised from 2005.
You might also want to check out Books Online. It's incredibly easy to use Google to search for answers to your SQL Server questions, but Microsoft has made Books Online into a great resource for SQL Server 2008 information, with lots of samples and links to other resources. Don't forget to RTFM (Read the Fine Manual)!