I've got a multieffects processor, a cute little 100 dollar one - the Digitech RP-100.
It's nice, has 40 slots for storing banks of settings. I can approximate most Edge sounds with that and a 2003 Stratocaster. The little guitar processor has amp modeling, humbucker simulation, compression, cabinet mic placement simulator, equalizer, effects (wah, tremblo, etc...), delay, and reverb. All those settings can be adjusted and saved to one of 40 user banks which you can then just flip through using the foot pedals.
You're well off buying a fairly cheapie multieffects unit first to experiment with effects, instead of going out to buy the 80$ boss pedals right away.
I'd recommend buying:
A) Digitech RP-100 - good starter for Edge-like effects with experimenting
B) Boss SD-1 Super Overdrive - you can adjust this pretty little thing to give you just the right amount of overdrive, that gives songs like In God's Country their tiny tiny tiny bit of distortion. Edge has one on top of his tour rig