I just had to collect a list of links about the new features of ASP.NET 2.0 for my colleagues since our next project will be ASP.NET 2.0 and will leverage almost all of that features, so I think is worth sharing it.

1. Membership/role/profile API: for managing account, login, administrative permissions, and so on (and you can build a custom provider that gets data from a legacy database)
• Using the Membership and Role Manager API: http://quickstarts.asp.net/QuickStartv20/aspnet/doc/security/membership.aspx
• Introduction to Membership: http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/yh26yfzy.aspx
• Implementing a Membership Provider: http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/f1kyba5e.aspx
2. SiteMap: bound with the feature above, will make very easy the process of limiting the access to not allowed pages, and provide a unique place for defining the menu bar and navigation:
• Using the Site Navigation API: http://quickstarts.asp.net/QuickStartv20/aspnet/doc/navigation/sitenavapi.aspx
• ASP.NET Site Navigation : http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms227558.aspx
• ASP.NET Site Navigation Overview: http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/e468hxky.aspx
• ASP.NET Site Maps: http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/yy2ykkab.aspx
3. Masterpages: to get an easy way to have a consistent look&feel among all the pages:
• Creating a Layout Using Master Pages: http://quickstarts.asp.net/QuickStartv20/aspnet/doc/masterpages/default.aspx
• ASP.NET Master Pages: http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/18sc7456.aspx
• ASP.NET Master Pages Overview: http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/wtxbf3hh.aspx
4. ASP.NET Ajax: to add some nice UI elements and provide an easier interaction for the end user:
• ASP.NET Ajax online docs: http://ajax.asp.net/docs/
• ASP.NET AJAX Overview: http://ajax.asp.net/docs/overview/default.aspx
• ASP.NET AJAX Control Toolkit docs: http://ajax.asp.net/ajaxtoolkit/
5. Localization: to have the possibility to localize the web application, even if the at first you want to have it only in English:
• Internationalizing Your Application: http://quickstarts.asp.net/QuickStartv20/aspnet/doc/localization/default.aspx
• ASP.NET Master Pages Overview: http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/c6zyy3s9.aspx
• Localizing ASP.NET Web Pages Using Resources: http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms228208.aspx
6. Themes: the same results can probably be achieved designing the pages making a wise use of CSS, but worth knowing what you can do in order to make a decision:
• Applying Styles, Themes, and Skins: http://quickstarts.asp.net/QuickStartv20/aspnet/doc/themes/default.aspx
• ASP.NET Themes and Skins: http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/wcyt4fxb.aspx
• ASP.NET Themes and Skins Overview: http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/wcyt4fxb.aspx