PHP vs ASP.NET
PHP and ASP are technologies for server-side scripting. Server-side scripting makes it possible to make web sites more complex, more interactive, and better-organized.
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[edit] Source
PHP is open source software and runs on Linux, Mac OS X, Windows, and several other operating systems. ASP.NET was developed by Microsoft but is not entirely dependent on proprietary Microsoft technologies. ASP.NET can be ported to non-Windows platforms using mod_mono. It has two community developed projects: mono and mod_asp.net. You can use mod_aspdotnet only for Windows but can use mod_mono on Linux, Mac, etc. ASP.NET is simpler and cleaner than PHP. ASP.NET can be coded using Visual Basic.NET, C# or any other language that can be compiled to .NET intemediate language (IL).
[edit] Language
PHP uses its own language which is a close derivative of Perl and is often criticized for its ugly syntax. ASP.Net will operate with any fully qualified language that is usable within the .Net Framework. The primary languages are C# and Visual Basic.NET, but others including IronRuby and IronPython have become increasingly popular in small circles. ASP.NET supports interchangeable parts (similar to Apache), allowing for new frameworks to be implemented like The ASP.Net MVC Framework.
[edit] Price
PHP costs nothing to use or to download. The Microsoft version of ASP.NET is also free to use and download, however it can only be run on Windows-based operating systems, which does technically require a licensed (and paid for) version of Windows. The Mono version and its Windows-specific alternative, mod_aspdotnet, are open-source and free for use on any supported OS.
There are both free and commercial tools for developing PHP and ASP.NET.
[edit] Community
PHP enjoys the advantage of having a larger community behind it as a result of being older and more mature. Due to its open-source nature people are more apt to answer questions about PHP online.
ASP.Net is supported both by Microsoft and Mono. Many ASP.Net communities have sprung up and due to more organized efforts by corporate entities they've had the advantage of sponsored hosting and special services.
[edit] Updates
ASP.NET is semi-frequently updated as a part of the full .Net Framework (Versions), about every 2 years. There are occasionally service packs released which may result in minor changes.
