Start with the manual. Under help. Basically you have 5 rooms - Assembly, Model, Storyboard (just stay out of there, usually), Texture, Render. Icons at the top right take you to the rooms. Assemble is default. Pull out on right w/ tabs is where all the features/properties are to objects. The bottom area is the browser and sequencer. Are you referring to the c5 splash screen? Just click on it and it will go away...that really should be made to do that anyway.

No need to think outside the box....
    Just make it invisible.