Experts Round Table Network

What provider model would you choose when building a Data Access Layer? I've been reading about the Provider Model Method , and the Abstract Factory Classes built into .net 2.0  (see examples below).. Are there any advantages from using one provider method over the other? Thanks in advance

//Generic DAL using Factory Classes in .net 2.0
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/dnvs05/html/vsgenerics.asp

http://www.c-sharpcorner.com/uploadfile/mosessaur/abstractfactoryadonet202152006053643am/abstractfactoryadonet2.aspx?articleid=4468e7cc-57c1-4738-8e83-a8db48fd1d9f


//Provider Model Method
http://blogs.clearscreen.com/migs/archive/2006/12/01/4781.aspx

Article promoting use of Factory Classes(read comments)
http://weblogs.asp.net/rmclaws/archive/2004/10/18/244118.aspx