Good article demonstrating WPF data binding to a factory method and async behaviour

Here: http://blogs.msdn.com/karstenj/archive/2006/01/27/518499.aspx

Visual Studio Orcas Beta 1 with Visual Studio 2005

Having got frustrated with trying to use the VPC image (mainly due to the inclusion of SQL Express rather than Standard) I took the plunge and installed Orcas Team Suite side by side with Visual Studio 2005. I understand there is a problem with the Beta 1 uninstall screwing VS2005 but I don't think that is necessarily a problem as I suspect that Beta 2 will coincide with a .Net 3.5 Go-Live Licence and I will switch all development to Beta 2 anyway - especially as it supports multiple framework version targetting.

WPF Unleashed - Adam Nathan

Having used ASP.NET primarily in the bulk of the UI's I've built in the last few years I have largely ignored WPF in favour of getting a detailed grip on WCF, WF and more recently LINQ. However, with the announcement of Silverlight I feel now is the time to get to grips with WPF. I have just finished reading Adam Nathan's book which did a really good job of getting the point across and also provided a far deeper level of technical detail than I was expecting. Using this along with Expression Blend is definitely a good was of getting a quick grip on the technology.
I must say WPF is very, very well thought through and I certainly would favour WPF/Silverlight (or ClickOnce) over ASP.NET/Ajax for applications from a productivity point of view let alone a functional one.