Mark, the Top, Right, Front views are camera points of view that can be assigned to each 3D view independently. How 2.49 default is not a issue. First of all, to make your life easier you should make the name of the view visible, if it's not already. Go to the user preferences, click on the "View & Controls" tab and select "View Name" on the column of buttons to the left. This will print the camera's orientation on the top left of the 3D view. You can now arrange your Blender desktop how you prefer and be sure that the camera's point of view is oriented as you want. You can switch the camera view by using the NumPad keys:
7 => Top View
1 => Front View
3 => Side View
To do so simply move the mouse over a 3D View pane that you want to set and the press the key. Or use the View menu for that 3D View.
The BG picture is specific for each view, as the tutorial shows.
This tutorial,
http://preta3d.com/wp/archives/91, shows you also how to setup a BG movie in Blender 2.49.
Hope this helps, let me know if you need more info.
Cheers.
--
Paolo Ciccone
Pret-A-3D
http://www.preta3d.com
http://www.paolociccone.com
