OUCH.. not great advice...
- The purpose of a table is to mark up data for display (eg. a spreadsheet look) NOT for layout.
- Code to Content ratio... the main SEO benefit of using a tableless design.
- Easier
- Easier to update
- Easier to read the code
- Easier to redesign your entire site in a couple years if you like
- Site will validate properly
- Site will be more accessible (less loss of customers) meets US legal requirements
- Site can be easily rendered for mobile browsers
- Site will load faster (has SEO weight)
- It's just proper
If you're not to up on it use Dreamweaver or another tool to help you build. In DW just click new then from the dialogue choose html choose an outline you want, choose xhtml transitional or strict click ok and you're done.
Plug in your content, edit the css colors and design and you're off to the races.
Personally I prefer not to use those as I go for bare minimums on my css, but that will work simple and easily.
Also note: I'm not saying you don't use tables anywhere, sometimes you can't get things to line up cross browser, and the time isn't there so a table will do it. But try to avoid them when you can.