My wife needs to hook up to the internet with her laptop, but infrequently. I already have cable internet on my desktop. what's the easiest way to get her on the cable? Someone told me to hook us up with a USB wire, but it can't be that simple can it?

Just my opinion...but I think a router is the best way to go. That way if your wife wants to go online, she can and you don't have to have a host computer turned on. Also, you can set up a network and share any hardware (printer, scanner, etc) associated with the desktop.

What Ken says is oh so true! You don't NEED a router but as Ken says you can do so much mor ewith it, ie/ connect straight to internet etc...! Go with the router! Good luck Matt

I use a DSL/Cable router connected to my cable modem then connected to a hub/switch. I have 7 machines shared in my house for the entire family to use the Internet/file sharing/2 printers. http://www.compuplus.com check the modem page where they have routers and modem deals.

Sterling you have 7 machines? do you get a loss of quality at all? just curious! and man you must have a BIG family! LOL Matt

How old are you Matt??????????????????????????

Best bet is to use a router and make a network...that way, your desktop computer won't have to work so hard (and your wife will have a quicker connection to the net). But windows does have ICS (internet connection service) which allows a computer to share its connection...you would just need to make sure both computers have OS's with ICS and that you have the right cable