* For the first time, ADO.NET is adding two new, much-anticipated technologies: Language Integrated Query (LINQ) and object/relational mapping with the Entity Framework (EF)--and this book shows developers how to implement these revolutionary features * One section of the book is devoted entirely to LINQ, the exciting set of .NET technologies that enables writing strongly typed SQL-style queries against a wide variety of data types * Another part of the book focuses on EF, Entity SQL, Entity Data Model and LINQ to Entities, and examines how these technologies provide power and flexibility to data-intensive .NET applications * Hands-on programming tasks, code snippets in both C# and VB.NET, and real-world, enterprise-scale sample projects and test harnesses illustrate the possibilities of LINQ and EF