dragon_rider said:
Yeah, but wireless network cards are around $39.99 x 2 (for both PC;s) would be around $80. Then the router would be another $60 making it a total of $140. Although I'd find it rather advantagous for networking games and such. And we discussed (with my brother and my mom) that we would simply network our computers and not have two IP addresses.
If you already have NIC cards then why do you need to buy wireless NIC cards? Basically what I'm saying is if you are going to spend the money to buy a router, just pay the extra $10 to get the wireless tacked on, even if you aren't going to use the wireless function right now. If you want to go cheaper get a switch instead. Its better than having to buy a new router later when you decide you want wireless. I can't help but think that you are still a bit confused. Wireless routers can use wired or wireless communication. If you get a wireless router, you do not necessarily HAVE to use a wireless NIC card, you can still use your Category 5(e) cables to connect with a normal NIC card.
Cheap Method:
Buy a 4 port switch
-With this option you get basic networking and internet sharing for all computers.
More expensive method:
Buy a 4 port wireless router
-With this option you get everything the switch offers plus a firewall and IP routing.
Other Methods
Crossover Cable: This has to have 3 nic cards for 2 computers, the "master" computer has to have 2 nic cards installed, one for ethernet from the modem, and one for output to the second computer. why not buy a switch, its about the same price as buying the 3rd NIC card and well... better because you aren't dependant on the "master" computer and you aren't hogging system resources with a 2nd nic card in the master computer.
Non-Wireless 4 port Router: you could do this but at $10 more to add wireless to it and still have the wired capability, it seems more cost effective to just get the wireless instead.
Hub: well these aren't even practical anymore, hubs cost the same as switches, but are less efficient because they can not identify which computer is requesting specific data packets so they brodcast the data packet to all the computers on the network. Switches (and routers) can identify which computer on the network made the request and send it to that computer only.