Optically they are much the same... later ones had separate zoom + focus
rings - earlier ones were 'one touch'.

See   http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/80200.htm

They are all superb lenses, all big 'n' heavy, built like tanks, the earlier
models are cheaper.

Love 'em ;-)

Guy

Here's the info you need, and a couple URL's for pictures of the
two that you want to look at.

These two are *not* what you want (obvious differences that you
can see in a glance are no tripod collar, and a single push/pull
zoom and focus ring):

Lens            Serial No.     Mfr.   Elem/  Wt    Dia   Len
                Range          Dates  Grps   gr    cm    cm

AF        ED    200001-375831  88-92  16/11  1280  85.5  176
AF   D    ED    400001-541739  92-97  16/11  1300  87    188

These two *are* what you want (these have a tripod collar and
separate rings for focus and zoom):

AF   D    ED N  715750-898734+ 97-??  16/11  1300  87    188

http://www.photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/afd802028n.jpg

AF-S D IF-ED    200001-255700+ 99-04  18/14  1550  88    207

http://www.photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/afs80200.jpg

The AF-S version has faster autofocus, and cost more.  The older
version is almost as fast, but the focus motor does make more
noise and moves a heavy front element which creates significant
torque when the lense zips around (which you'll get used to, but
it does get your attention!).

I've got one of the "D AF ED N" versions.  At 80mm it is short
enough, fast enough, and has good enough bokeh to use for
portraits.  At 200mm I find it to be wonderful for indoor events
where the lighting is not good and I'm far from the subjects,
such as school events held in a poorly lit gymnasium.  And at
200mm, expecially combined with a high quality 2x teleconverter
to make a very decent 400mm f/5.6, it is useful for a lot of
"nature" shots; with the result that I do not own a lense in the
range from 300 to 600mm at all, and the next step up that I use
is an 800mm f/5.6.

All that said... if you can afford it, buy the 70-200mm VR lens,
just to get the VR capability.

Thanks for the replies !
I would like the 70-200mm vr but it's
out of my budget.
I shall probably go for the 2 ring 80-200mm

Great lens.
Unfortunately it is the size and weight of a rhinoceros.

For new, you can only get the AF 80-200 f/2.8 D ED with tripod collar lens
as the later one than that the AF-S 80-200 D ED is no longer in production.