2. If you're feeling techy, yes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AbxI41AJEU

in reading the answer but sadly you may not find the answer on this board. Do let me know how you go, tho... I've been interested in electronic drum kits for about 12mths and those who use them. Keep me posted (know little about them myself but anyway, that isn't the point).

The skillz are exactly the same for both. (Timing, rhythm and co-ordination)

So you'll be able to transfer your skillz easily.

In answer to 2 just get a click or a metronome. :D

1. Absolutely; they are essentially the same (i.e. they use a kick pedal etc.) if you go for the full kit (i.e. not drum pads).
2. Yes, most of the 'brains' have learner/coaching functions built in which are useful for this kind of thing. You can also whack in your Ipod (through jack to jack cable) and play along to basic drum tracks on that (i.e. The Strokes :) which is a good way to learn.

Other than that, buy a quality kit (otherwise they have a tendency to fall apart, and the response just isn;t there), but don't buy new. The best brands are probably Yamaha and Roland. I bought a Roland TDk3 second hand on Ebay for about £300 and its brilliant, a highly recommend it.

Finally, you need to accept that electronic kits are for practice only, gigging them just isn't cool, ergo once you've learnt properly you'll probably need to buy an acoustic anyway!

its actually (in my experience) quite different playing an acoustic kit, although your rhythm and co-ordination can be easily transferred, the way you play an acoustic kit is different, for example you dont/cant play proper rimshots on an electric kit, and also the bounce back on the drums is different (although a good electonic kit these days has a really good snare) another thing is that an acoustic kit is much bigger so you might have to readjust your playing position etc..

if you have good rhythnm though it shouldnt be too difficult at all really.

not sure on number 2 though

it's awesome for rehearsing on at home, the pads are great, but the pedals just don't feel right. Probably because it is the cheapest of the V-Drums, however acoustic kits FTW.

& play along to a metronome?

I have tried out most Roland and Yamaha electric kits and I must say that I prefer Roland. The TD3 is the obvious choice for starting on. I have tried the HD1 but I thought it was awful. The TD3 has a mesh snare, a nice hihat pad and the brain has a rhythm coach feature, so you won't necessarily need a metronome. Rhythm coach plays a metronome and you are meant to play along, the module analyses your playing, displaying how far behind or ahead of the beat you are, rewarding you if you are in time with more speed.

The new TD9 is really good but it is much more pricey.

but if you're only getting an electronic kit because it's quieter, you should get an acoustic one instead and use drum pads when practising. It'll not make any sound and will actually be more beneficial, as there is quite a noticeable difference between electronic kits and "real" kits in terms of technique, although the basic skills are the same as someone said above. It's easier to go from real to electric than the other way round i've found.

1) The basics will feel and sound quite similar on both (timing, co-ordination etc) but unless you spend a lot of money on an electronic kit (eg spanky top-o-the-range mesh-head pads and sound modules with many levels of dynamic sensitivity), things like pressed-rolls, drags, ghost notes, rimshots and the like, as well as the ability to render subtler and nuanced dynamics, will be pretty hard to learn effectively and is the sort of thing a real drum kit is needed for. A compromise could be a cheap electronic kit and a halfway decent snare to practice rudiments on, so you have a feel for an actual drums response.

2) Most electronic kits have some form of sequencer/metronome, or even better, the aux input for you to connect an MP3 player/CD player to play along to. If you mean a guitar-hero style representation of "hit this note then then this one there" etc, this is not really available outside Rock Band to my knowledge. You would do well to get hold of the "drum tab" or sheet music for a few songs you know really well and try to play those along to the CD. I used to just play along to the stereo in my front room with my acoustic kit when I was learning, and though this was well loud I still found it the best way to learn, along with practicing rudiments and stuff.

it's compulsory that the only sounds you're allowed to use are cheesy 80s ones that will make you sound like Phil Collins.