Samsung Captivate - a lot of stuff

ok - I had an older black berry that worked just fine but decided to get in the real world again. I did not want an iphone (friends and hubby have one so am familiar) and really wanted a black berry torch till I started reading the reviews.So decided to try a samsung captivate. I am pretty tech savvy but just got this and am a little over whelmed. Way too much going on. Got to turn some of this stuff off. Also cannot get it hook up with usb to my computer- well did it once - then never again. Many more questions than answers.

 

OK I downloaded the Kies program at my work computer and the new usb drivers. It saw it all one time - then never again. Just said connecting....