Apparently Microsoft is creating 3 completely different versions of Visual Studio for 3 different environments. They are...

* Visual Studio [Everett]
- Windows .NET Server Integration
- Support for .NET compact framework and device development
- Improved performance

* Visual Studio for Yukon
- SQL Server Integration
- Improved IDE productivity and community support
- Extended support for XML web services
- Office programmability

* Visual Studio for Longhorn
- Windows "Longhorn" Integration
- New UI tools and designers
- Extensive managed interfaces

Source: BetaDomain

obviously they are just trying to squeeze more $$ out of your pathetic wallet by coming up with this lousy idea of 3 versions.....

so that if you need the full version, you will have to get all 3 and hence actually paying 3 times the price for 1 product divided into 3 parts...(like star wars, 6 episode)