please do not go for a table design, new or not. if anything this would give you a bigger head ache! try searching for common css layouts and you should get what you are looking for. if you still cannot understand the "lingo" id say start at w3schools.com
i insist, go for table design.. its best supported and will get you up without a lot of code hiding for IE and hasLayout nonsense you need a full A4 page of code to render 3 div boxes lined up next to each other.. and you need to learn all options on all those parameters to be able to use it. enjoy a site online instead of coding perfection..