http://blog.iphone-dev.org/ is a good site to follow on the unlocking of the iPhone and it's new software versions.
PwnageTool and QuickPwn are dead simple tools to use.
For people who struggle with computers, i'd recommend getting rid of the locked iPhone and getting an unlocked one (from NZ, Italy, Belgium, Australia or any other country where locked phones aren't legal). I bought mine from Italy, a friend got his from the Apple Store in Sydney.
Perhaps one day the iPhone will be freely available in the free world.