Need Advice - Looking for quality .NET Training (OOP and Silverlight) - Feedback

Question

I am in search of some .NET Training (my company will be paying for this training). I am and prefer learning via books (always have). I would like to know what others have experienced in terms of some quality training - I am looking into two types of training: OOP Design Patterns and Silverlight. I am not seeking these two different topics to be discussed during the same training sessions. Since I have never taken any training, I do not know the reputation of any of these training suppliers.

In my limited search I have the following - any feedback will be greatly appreciated.

Silverlight Courses: 1. Silverlight Tour - http://silverlight-tour.com/ (same as https://agilitrain.com/) 2. Develop Mentor - http://www.develop.com/training-course/silverlight-4

OOP / Design Patterns: 1. Wintellect - http://www.wintellect.com/Training/Courses/Mastering-Object-Oriented-Programming 2. Object Mentor - http://www.objectmentor.com/omTraining/course_ood_csharp.html 3. Develop Mentor - http://www.develop.com/training-courses/dotnet 4. Dot Factory - http://www.dofactory.com/Courses/540/DotNet-Training-C%23-Design-Patterns.aspx

I have over 10 years of professional experience and about 10 more of academic (since I was young and throughout college) experience and thus am not seeking 101 stuff.

Thanks for any and all feedback!

Answer 1

Can't go wrong with http://www.silverlight.net/learn/ (not exactly 101 stuff, depends on the video, but if you haven't touched silverlight, its a really great place to start...and its free)

Answer 2

For a book, hands down Pete Brown's Silverlight 4 in Action http://www.manning.com/pbrown/ For videos, then check out PluralSight-Training. http://www.pluralsight-training.net/microsoft/ I have used both of these and they are the best in Silverlight 4 Training.