sql server - nvarchar(max) vs NText

Question

What are the advantages and disadvantages of using the nvarchar(max) vs. NText data types in SQL Server? I don't need backward compatibility, so it is fine that nvarchar(max) isn't supported in older SQL Server releases.

Edit: Apparently the question also applies to TEXT and IMAGE vs. varchar(max) and varbinary(max), for those searching for those data-types later.

Answer 1

The advantages are that you can use functions like LEN and LEFT on nvarchar(max) and you cannot do that against ntext and text. It is also easier to work with nvarchar(max) than text where you had to use WRITETEXT and UPDATETEXT.

Also, text, ntext, etc., are being deprecated (http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms187993.aspx)