Started on a Zx81 with the classic ..
Played with quite a few 8/16bit machines ...
Spectrum 48k/QL
Commodore Vic20/C64/C16/Pet
Msx (Toshiba)
Oric1
BBC Model A/B
Amstrad 464/6128
Acorn Electron
Amiga 500/1200
Pee Cee
I picked up most programming methods from computer listings in magazines such as Input.
The worst experience I had was typing in a 16K frogger game for the Zx81.
At the time I had a 16K ram expansion attached.
After spending hours getting the code entered I accidently knocked the exansion pack and **POOOP** ... Lost EVERYTHING
Doh!