suggest me a few well known and accessable electronica albums so I can try and get into genre. don't list me your obscure personal favorites... give me the essentials.

describe what you listen for or what makes you enjoy it.

what non electronic muisc you like?

Four albums (technically compilations) that are a good starting point:
Hackers Sountrack
Wipeout XL
The Saint Soundtrack
Warp:Routine

The first three have a lot of drum & bass, techno, and big beat. The last one is a lot of IDM, experimental, and acid jazz. I can't recommend any house, trance, or ambient because I really don't listen to that stuff. I don't know of any trip hop compilations but Portishead and Massive Attack are a good start.

Aphex Twin - I Care Because You Do

Boards of Canada - Music Has The Right To Children

Autechre - Chiastic Slide

None of these are hard to find, and they are all great starting points for each artist, in my opinion.

Autechre 'Amber' or 'Tri Repetae'

Simply because I'm a big Autechre fan. I love their sounds, beats, atmospheres and the variety in their music. They are also one of the biggest names in the electronica genre.

(I think 'Amber' and 'Tri Repetae' are two of the most loved albums in general)

I would start with Autechre's: Amber or Boards of Canada: Music has the Right to Children.

If you dont like either of those there really is no hope for you

I like your recommendations a lot.

Come on guys, he said he wanted essential and accessible, so why not go with the first electronic pop group?

This one's pretty accessible:
Kraftwerk - Trans Europe Express

Then again, perhaps Computer World would be even more immediate...