Left 4 Dead: Fun and fast-paced. The friendly AI is very good. The difficulty levels do what they say. Easy is easy. Normal is satisfying. Advanced can get tough, especially in the later levels. Expert will make you work hard for success, especially since the friendly AI starts to show some of its inadequacies (though that doesn't mean it gets bad; you just might notice some of the not-so-good aspects).
The levels are awesome and the characters are even better. Weapon selection is minimal. You can duel wield pistols and you have access to a sub machine gun, a pump-action shotgun (the two Tier 1 weapons), an automatic shotgun, an M16, and a hunting rifle (The Tier 2 weapons). They are all effective in their own way.
Left 4 Dead 2: More numerous and more difficult enemies and a few more Special Infected. Possibly the game's greatest downfall is its slightly inferior friendly AI. Again, it isn't bad, and it'll get you through the Easy and Normal difficulties. However, don't expect much help in Advanced or Expert, especially if you need to get somewhere fast. The friendly AI tends to lag behind, and with the increased difficulty, you might find yourself alone with no hope of friendly aid.
Personally, I thought the levels were just as good as those in the first game. The characters, however, are somewhat lacking. Rochelle doesn't really have much personality. Coach is okay in that he's the older guy of the group, and he's good for the occasional joke. Nick has personality, but it really only shows when he's engaged in friendly banter. Ellis, though, is awesome. He's got the most personality, and he's got some hilarious stories.
Weapons are more numerous, even if their functions vary only slightly. The inclusion of melee weapons is a nice touch, I think, though on the higher difficulties you might regret picking one up, since it takes the place of your side arm.
So yeah. That was more... disjointed than I had thought it would be, and it doesn't included all the differences present. But I hope I kind of gave you an idea. Both play almost identically, and they're both a lot of fun. I've never found them boring. Of course, I don't play them for weeks and weeks. Still, I think they are fun games.