Next, if you're on windows, first thing to do is download tortoisesvn gui shell for it. To heck with the command line, the gui makes everything sooo much easier. Also, if you download tortoise, that takes care of everything, you don't need to download subversion client or server or anything, it's all bundled in tortoise. Not sure if tortoisesvn is ok for unix, but if it's not, I would suggest hunting around for some gui shell that is.

Make a test repository, and dink around with it for a while, following the "easy start for beginners" type stuff in the manual. Use the tortoisesvn manual, not the subversion book: the tortoisesvn manual is a lot easier and will get you productive sooner. You can always read the subversion book later for the nitty gritty.

For the more fancy stuff (both subversion and cvs), pay a visit to cvsdude's forum, or the svn or tortoisesvn mailing lists. Personally I like cvsdude's better, but maybe that's just cause I find web forums easier to navigate than mailing lists.

Finally, USE it. It will save you time, and the time saving will probably kick in pretty fast. Don't just use it for code. Use it for letters, notes to yourself, excel spreadsheets, whatever. Version control is a very Good Thing. Good for you for deciding to learn about it and integrate it into your set of tools.