quick tip

you do not need to select a face, vert or edge before using the linked hotkey (L). it can be used to select the linked surfaces beneath the cursor as long as nothing else is selected or to multi select when the CTRL+L is used

http://cgcookie.com/blender/cgc-courses/blender-basics-introduction-for-beginners/

i would suggest that as a primer for all new users because it touches on the basics that can be expanded on later

as far as specifics with the 2.5 and later versions im a bit lost because i still use 2.49b and refuse to leave it nut alot of the basics are the same in all versions

im trying to understand teh rotate in box mode question but for all areas the rotations are controlled by one of teh key combos

ALT+Shift, ALT+CTRL, and Shift+CTRL

its a bit odd for people from a studio background but not all that far from when i used pixar