A Good, Clear, Introductory Text?

[lrl4565]

So, I started with "Physics for Dummies", but it quickly became confusing. They use speed and velocity interchangeably... calling acceleration the rate at which speed changes, talking about negative speed, telling me that vector a + vector b = vector c. After internet research, I'm pretty sure these things are not right.

I want a textbook that is, above all, CLEAR.

I've been hearing things about Halliday and Resnick. I was thinking about purchasing the 1978 version of "Physics". Is there a difference between this and the newer Fundamentals of Physics?

http://www.amazon.com/Physics-Parts-Pts-1-David-Halliday/dp/047134530X/ref=sr_1_17?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1276450206&sr=1-17

http://www.amazon.com/Physics-1-David-Halliday/dp/0471320579

About my math and science background:

I have never taken any physics courses. I took Calculus last year (in high school, with an engineering textbook), and have a fairly decent grasp of the concepts, but am not strong.

[Daverz]

I highly recommend that edition of H&R "Physics".

"Fundamentals of Physics" is watered down, but should still be fine.

The only reason new editions of these texts keep coming out is to keep the publisher from losing money to the used textbook market. You're not missing anything by getting older editions.