You might want to copy this section and tape it to the wall next to your computer: it's a very short summary of most of the things you'll want to do with Ximian Evolution.
Custom Keyboard Shortcuts: If you have set custom keyboard shortcuts for your desktop, (you can do this the control center: select System->Settings from your menu panel), they may interfere with Evolution keyboard shortcuts.
For example, if you have chosen Emacs-style key bindings for your desktop-wide text editor, the shortcut Ctrl+W will act as "Cut region" rather than as "Close Window" in the message composer.
Press Ctrl+N to open a new item for whatever part of Ximian Evolution you're working on. In mail, that means you'll create a new message. If you're looking at your addressbook, Ctrl+N creates a new contact card, and in the calendar, a new appointment.
File->New->Folder or Ctrl+Shift +E
File->New->Evolution Bar Shortcut or Ctrl+Shift+S
Use File->New->Mail Message or Ctrl+Shift +M
File->New->Appointment or Ctrl+Shift+A
Double-click in any blank space in the contact manager to create a new address card. You can also use File->New->Contact or Ctrl+Shift+C
File->New->Task or Ctrl+Shift+T