[Proj] FW Tools 1.2.2 beginner

[Conor O'Donoghue]

I have just installed FW tools 1.2.2 (successfully, I
believe)but I am do not know how to proceed.

Two Questions
1) I need help with choosing the most appropriate
utilitiy (GDAL or Proj for example). My objective is
to forward re-project, or warp, tiff's (vector files
later). I have no need to use the functionality with
another program, so i think the command line should be
fine.

2) I need some guidance in getting started. I have
read much of Gerald L. Evenden's Proj.4 User's manuals
and i believe i can manage the command line syntax.
Since I have no programming knowledge and can only
limp around in DOS I am not sure how to get the
command line working in the dos shell. (For example,
when in the FWTools1.2.2 or proj_lib directories when
I type "$ proj" I get '$' is not recognized as an
internal or external command, operable program or
batch file.) in that case i am not invoking the
proj.exe. 
Where could i get guidance on getting started with the
reccomended utility.
Apologies for such an entry level question

Conor o'Donoghue