Tabs and spaces

So, I'm trying out python, and doing my coding in screen + vim to get split-screen with a shell at the bottom seems to make a nice setup.

The problem I have now is with vim's way of autoindenting and tab-handling. Basically, I want auto-indent to use a \t character, and my "tab" button to insert the same. Then I want the tabs to take the space of 3 spaces.

I've tried googling and stuff, but everything is just vim vs emacs -esque tab vs space  wars. But I know how I want it, I just don't know how to do it =/

:set ts=3 sw=3 noet