Ian Ross has just released a book on Anim8or. It's perect for a beginner and a good reference for experienced users. It contains detailed chapters on every aspect, with many examples. Get your own copy here: "Anim8or Tutorial Book"
I'd again suggest to install Anim8or under some operating system under VirtualBox or VMware. If you can't install Windows I would suggest some lighter (yet simply enough for novice to use) variant of Linux either Lubuntu or single CD version of PCLinuxOS + WINE under VirtualBox but I'm not sure while if you're afraid of installing virtualization software and not willing to try out some of out previous suggestions that we'll be able to help you further online.I don't like virtualization software. Any other ideas?
Another idea is to repartition your drive and install some Linux flavour at the side of your current system, but I think it's not the thing you'd like to do alone. You might look for somebody who knows a bit more about OSes and show this forum thread to him/her so that this person will be able to create for you setup mentioned in this thread. If that person will have more questions please post them this thread. I may be able to help a little bit with the WINE setup, because I was running Anim8or in Linux a while ago.
Intel Graphics Express Series is crapola with no good OpenGL support. I havent downloaded anim8or yet to confirm this ( i also use this flimsy integrated graphics hell. )
Microsoft has a free virtual PC software download that supposedly installs a working copy of the XP OS somewhere in W7. Have you tried that?
