My first computer was the HP-86B. In 1986 I was admitted as a student of Electrical/Electronics Engineering at the then Abubakar Tafawa Balewa College, Bauchi, Nigeria(a campus of ABU, Zaria, Nigeria at the time). We had 5 units of the HP-86B in our Computer lab. The HP-86B used a monitor with "green monochrome" display. We stored our programs using 3.5-inch floppy disks. These diskettes were truly floppy in nature. Using these machines, we learned the BASIC programming language.

I would recommend The Art of Electronics. Then for the Practical aspect visit: 1. http://www.epemag.wimborne.co.uk/ 2. http://www.elektor.com/ Here you will find magazines for everything you need in hobby electronics.