if you are just coming from auto mode, i suggest not delving into the world of M just yet. with M you acquire, as the name suggests, manual control of all the fuctions of the camera which WILL be daunting and could put you off DSLR for life if jumping straight in from AUTO, this would be a real shame. Instead, if coming from AUTO, start off at P which will still give the camera the control of shutter and aperture, but will allow you to experiment and take controll of basic functions such as flash and white balance. Start there for now, in the meantime studying the manual and learning about the functions and potential of A (aperture priority) and S (shutter priority). My advice would clearly be, untill you feel comfortable using P, then A and S, dont move onto M. Think of it as learning a new language, you would'nt throw yourself into a political conversation if your still at the level of being able to order a beer! MAKE HASTE SLOWLY and dont be afraid to ask. If there is a local club or interest group you could plug yourself into this would also be a great support.