To quit vi without making changes to the file, use the command :q!. When you type the `` :'', the cursor will move to the last line on the screen; you'll be in last line mode.
In last line mode, certain extended commands are available. One of them is q!, which quits vi without saving. The command :wq saves the file and then exits vi. The command ZZ (from command mode, without the `` :'') is equivalent to :wq. Remember that you must press enter after a command entered in last line mode.
To save the file without quitting vi, just use :w.