A great overview and comparison of Access, SQL Server, Visual Studio and the .NET Framework.
From time to time I get a message from a client asking whether they should upgrade from Access to SQL Server, usually after seeing some presentation or ad for SQL Server. Sometimes this is appropriate (say, when they anticipate storing millions of records in the database), but usually Access will do just fine, or even better. Here is a quotation from a Microsoft document that gives an excellent overview and comparison of Access, SQL Server, Visual Studio and the .NET Framework:
Microsoft offers a range of products that enable organizations to solve problems by entering, manipulating, and querying relational data. These products include the database engines that directly store and retrieve data, as well as application development tools that enable users to interact with the database engines.
Microsoft Office Access uses a database engine that can store data directly and that can also mediate storage and retrieval of data using other database engines, including Microsoft SQL Server. The Access application development tools can be used either with the Access database engine or directly with the SQL Server database engine.
For most database applications that are used only by individuals or small workgroups, Microsoft Office Access and its database engine can provide valuable solutions while keeping the cost of development low. Users can often solve data-tracking problems using Access, without requiring professional technical support. However, professional design reviews and occasional consultation can significantly improve the quality of Access solutions. For applications requiring greater scalability, availability, or security, SQL Server is an alternative to the built-in database engine of Access for data storage, although Access can still be used to develop user interface objects.
For applications that require a multi-tiered or service oriented architecture, or that require an HTML-based user interface, the Microsoft Visual Studio® development system and the Microsoft .NET Framework may be preferred. The .NET Framework is an integral component of the Microsoft Windows operating system that provides a programming model and runtime for Web services, Web applications, and smart client applications.
Microsoft Office Access allows problems to be solved relatively quickly and effectively by users who understand the problems well, but who often do not have the resources or the time to develop a more extensively architected and engineered solution.
