Just few weeks back, I had posted on the steps and links to download and implement Ajax enabled ASP.NET Website using the ASP.NET AJAX 1.0 RC1 release.
ASP.NET AJAX 1.0 has been released. What does this mean?
It is now a fully supported version and is free for download and use with Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 and ASP.NET 2.0.
This release version fixes a lot of performance issues as well as some of the earlier bugs that were still out in the RC1 version.
Also, the ASP.NET AJAX Control Toolkit provides 30+ Ajax Enabled Controls which can be used freely in your ASP.NET AJAX Enabled Websites. All of these controls have been built on top of the Control Extender Pattern of Microsoft AJAX Library.
The ASP.NET AJAX 1.0 can be downloaded from http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=ca9d90fa-e8c9-42e3-aa19-08e2c027f5d6&displaylang=en
Also, Scott has got a very good post covering the details and a few quick fixes at his blog http://weblogs.asp.net/scottgu
All these that you need to currently download separately will be an integrated part of Visual Studio vNext code named "Orcas"
Cheers !!!