title: Should I be using table adapters?
body: <p>I am working on a personal project as a way of learning more about C# and .NET, specifically creating an application that utilises a database (MS SQL Server 2008 in my case).  Whilst I appreciate there isn't always a definitive "right" way of doing things, given the choice between using an old technology/idea or a new one, I would rather use the new one.  For example, one of my aims for this project is to learn, or at least familiarise myself with, WPF rather than using WinForms as I have done in the past.</p>
  
  <p>On that basis, I've been muddling around without a great deal of direction with regards to saving data to my database and retrieving it.  So far I've managed to get both those working using <code>TableAdapters</code> but I feel like they are the "old" way of working (my basis for this is that they are listed under Visual Studio 2005 on MSDN).  Firstly, am I correct in this assumption?  If so, what are the newer methods of saving and retrieving data from a database?  I would be grateful of any pros and cons each method offers.</p>
  
  <p>I've Googled and searched MSDN extensively but I don't feel like I am using the correct search terms as I have only succeeded in confusing myself.</p>
  
  <p>I have .NET 3.5, Visual Studio 2008 and Microsoft SQL Server 2008 at my disposal.</p>
  
  <p>Any guidance would be much appreciated.</p>