Ok dude, if you want to learn to read notation as well as play guitar, then a great book to start with would be Scales and Modes: In the Beginning. This book has all the scales and their modal inversions laid out especially for guitar. Everything is written out in tab and in standard notation. The ISBN # is 0-89898-151-4.

Also, you'll probably want to get a book that names and lists all the chords. Any old chord dictionary will do.

And finally, if you're just starting out, you should pick up one of those self-paced guitar course books by Hal Leonard. I don't know any by name, but you'll be sure to find them at any music store. It'll have you playing stupid crap like 'Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star', but it's all just to build your dexterity and knowledge of the instrument.

Now I realize all this costs money, but it'll be money well spent. The books on modes and chords will be valuble references years from now.

About the guitar thing - since you'll be moving on to bigger and better things once you get established in the instrument and discover your style, I recommend you just get yourself a cheap electric guitar and amp. Try to spend as little as possible on these two ( < $200 ), because you'll be wanting to replace them within a year. I started out with a $80 Fender Mexican-Standard Strat and corresponding amp. It was a great rig to learn on but wasn't good for much more.

P.S. Don't let those guys at the music store talk you into buying more than you need.

Ok, hope all that was comprehensible as well as helpful. Take it easy.