Thanks for all the comments guys.

A couple of things (ok more than a couple) in my first post were a bit off.

For example, I suggested running away from cruisers. This is probably a good idea in the beginning. However, I have found that groups of 3 and sometimes 2 frigates can take on a cruiser if they have long range setups. That is, setups that work just outside of nos range, but within 20km. You have to improve your relevant cap skills a bit to run a 20km warp disrutor -- to III or maybe even IV in some cases. Drones and missiles will still hit in most cases, and you can't really tank, but if it's not a Caracal, there's a good chance they surrendered those missile slots for nos these days. Also, lots of people try to go for the biggest drones possible, which is good for you because those are slower and have worse tracking. Each frig in such a gang has about 25-35dps on average, which is adequate for overcoming most cruiser tanks.

I realize PVP isn't everyone's thing. Some people go for the competition by other means, or compete on the market. Others need a reason to pull the trigger, and others just want a good story, especially a playerbase created story. Many people do get to a point where they feel hemmed in by play style constrictions eventually though. PvP is one of the few routes which people can cooperate to achieve rather than just cooperate for the sake of cooperating, and that is probably the real source of it's popularity.

For me, isk is the narrative, as it is a sort of fiction in its right. I fall into that role because I am willing to let it ride in order to see what will happen. I can't get attached to my character's losses, just as I don't get upset when my alternator needs replacing or my coffee maker has to be replaced. But it does make the victories sweeter.

I don't really just want more isk. I want only that isk that I feel I have really deserved in some way. Special isk I guess. Quality over quantity maybe? Either won it or stole it in my case. If I was a POS or business mastermind, I would be pleased at the numbers in my double-entry ledger for working out to plan rather than unnecessary effort.

I like this quote: "Can you call yourself a coward simply because the courage of others seems to you out of proportion to the triviality of the occasion? Thus wisdom creates cowards. And thus you miss Opportunity while spending your life on the lookout for it. You have to seize Opportunity instinctively, without knowing at the time that it is the Opportunity (for self? for amor fati? a critical something certainly). ... But suppose you passed up the the Opportunity because you felt it was inadequate?" -Umberto Eco, "Foucault's Pendulum"

where do u get that implant u were talking about? i did the tutorial but didnt get it

Sounds fun.

You get the implant on the second half of the tutorial. It's a reward at the last of the 7-10 event agents to whom your starting mentor-agent refers you.

Just don't sell it for any old price. List it at about what others list it as under sell orders or escrow. Might take longer, but usually not too long if you price it a little bit lower than others.

Is EVE just a big gankfest? From reading the threads here it seems that way. I'm not very interested in PvP. The idea that EVE is a gankfest is keeping me away from this game.

I'm playing WoW no and am getting bored with the end game. I also prefer to solo or small groups as much as possible. I'm at the point in WoW where it is all endless 20 to 40 person instance runs, which I found out that I hate with a passion. 2 to 5 persons co-operating on a quest was fun, but instances suck. In WoW the person with the Ubergear wins, no skill, no strategy.

I'm looking for a game where you don't HAVE to PvP. Where there is other ways to advance and make money in the game.

Can I get something cleared up?

I have a Kestrel. I have a warp jammer and a stasis webifier, as well as an afterburner.

Should I put four rocket launchers on it, or missle launchers?

lol @ all the concern about EvE being a gankfest.  

there are 5000 solar systems in Eve, each has a "security rating"   1.0  is totally safe, as is .9 , .8 , .7, .6 and .5

-   .4 is dangerous but  has some protection by NPC "police" at stations and gates.   .3, .2, .1 and 0.0 ... You can be "ganked".

If you don't want to, you never have to go to a low (no) security system.    It is your choice.    There is plenty of room for the Carebear in Eve.   There are plenty of Carebears in Eve.

First off, lowrads, nice posts.  Don't be afraid to lay your gear on the line.  Sure you might lose it, but it's been quoted more than once, "Don't fly what you aren't willing to lose."

After all, it's all just a bunch of visual data.  it's not like your house is gonna burn down because you got podded.   That's what the insurance is for.  So get out there and find some excitement, go blow up a miner or two.  You can always build yourself a reputable name AFTER your trial period.

This really is an excellent guide. Many people enjoy the more peaceful aspects of EVE, but suicidal Tech 1 frigate pvp is an almost unrivalled thrill. I can almost guarantee that to begin with (it still happens to me) any pvp encounter, however it turns out, will leave you shaking with the sheer excitement and adrenaline of it.

Find a couple of like-minded people from your starter corp, head to Syndicate, which is excellent for this kind of thing, and then die  repeatedly (while hopefully causing a little bit of collateral damage) until you're shaking too much and have to go and have a lie down. You'll have more fun than you'd think possible.

Well you shouldnt have to be "prevented" from doing boring things. The purpose of a game is to enjoy all of it eh? I mean...If I wanna try out a trial of a game, I shouldnt have to follow a guide like what you have, though very informative and nicely done, just to have fun. I want to get into the game, and be like, "Wow, this is fun."

Granted, EVE is probably the most in depth/complicated of the MMO's out there, I guess im just not one for all of that, I prefer not to spend a bunch of time figuring things out, and doing boring this and boring that before finding out the fun stuff, or having to look at a guide to enjoy the fun parts of a game...yep.

Theres my two cents. And another, cause 3 is always better than 2, unless its not...but yeah.