What about a forum for beginners to ask questions or a project ideas forum whre one could discuss possible equipment, schematics, etc. for a project?
For this I would recommend the IRC (Internet Relay Chat). You can use a program such as mIRC (on windows) to access it and then you can chat to a load of guys about projects, components etc.
This is a better way to do it as it is live and simpler to chat.
IRC: #arduino
also #sparkfun (also useful, always lots of people on it)
Mowcius