| In-memory data representation (where data is cached in memory) | Uses a RecordSet object that represents a single table. | Uses a DataSet object that can contain one or more tables represented by the DataTable object. The ADO RecordSet object has been eliminated. |
| Relationships between tables | Requires a SQL JOIN query to pull together data from multiple tables into a single table. | Uses a DataRelation object to associate rows in one DataTable to rows in another DataTable . |
| Data access | Uses the MoveFirst and MoveNext commands to iterate through a RecordSet . | Uses a DataReader object to sequence through data. The Read method automatically advances through the DataSet and sets its initial starting point. |
| Disconnected data access | The RecordSet can support disconnected and connected access by using the Connection object and communicating with an OLE DB provider. | Uses the DataAdapter object to communicate with a database by calling a standard OLE DB provider or an API from a third party. |
| Programmability | Requires that the table and column methods be used to access data and that table and column names be specified. | Much easier to read and write because the data is self-describing in that it makes use of strongly typed program characteristics of XML. Thus, tables and rows do not appear in the actual code. |
| Data sharing | Disconnected RecordSets are transmitted using COM marshalling. These RecordSets support only the types defined by the COM standard. May require type conversions when passing data to different schemas. | Data is passed as an XML file, which imposes no restrictions on data types and requires no type conversions. |
| Passing data through firewalls | Might not work because most firewals are configured to deny system-level requests such as COM marshalling. | The DataSet object supports HTML-based XML, which will pass through firewalls. |
| Scalability | Does not easily scale well because of locks and open connections being used for extended periods. | Locks and connections are limited to very short durations because they use disconnected data access. |