Getting started - what do I need?

Hello, I have never used php or mysql before and want to know what tools I should use so that I can start learning php and mysql. I would like to build basic things like a login page and forms that append the data to a database. I went to the bookstore and think the book PHP fast and easy web development is something that I could handle. I've read through some of the posts on this news group and realized that there are tools that I can use as front ends for these packages. I went to mysql.com and php.net and it seems that i can download both of these packages to my computer for free. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Indera