What is the "best" wireless router out there?

I have a reasonably good one,a D-Link DI-624M. It has something called smart antenna MIMO technology. It works ok. I have my primary computer in the basement, and the router sits right next to it. My wife and I each have a laptop that we use mostly in the study and den. Straightline distance is approximately 10 to 15 feet. Signal strength varies from good to very good, sometimes excellent on my Dell Inspiron E1505. However, when I speed test the connection, using CNet's website, my download speed is never better than 40 or 45% of that obtained by my wired desktop. This is true, even if I bring the laptop downstairs and set it less than 4 feet from the router.
I've had this router maybe 3 years now. I've seen the g technology grow with gigarange and +, then came pre-N, Nplus, etc.
Will any of these improve my speed on the laptops? Both of out laptops have built-in Dell mini pci cards that are g speed capable, I'm sure.
Is there anything to be gained by buying an N capable one? I can buy one at nearly 50% off, locally, on craigslist. However, every time I read a review, mostly user reviews on amazon dot com, there are as many 1 star ratings given to a particular one as there are 5 star ratings. This goes for Linksys as well as Netgear.
Is there a reliable, professional reviewer that recommends one over another?
All I do is surf the net and download updates, etc. There is no internal filesharing, etc. I do sometimes try and watch video or a movie on Hulu or SurfTheChannel, and I can tell the slow down on the laptop vs the wired desktop.

 

Thanks Tony. Here are the results: Download on the desktop7552, Upload 1385. Dell Inspiron E1505 Down: 3724, Up 1428. Compaq E700 Down: 3578, Up 1338. The Compaq Presario obviously doesn't have a Dell mini pci card. I misspoke. I think its an Archos. The Compaq is a bit newer, runs Vista vs XP home for the E1505, but I don't believe that makes any difference. They are otherwise similar in performance(dual core cpu, 2gigs ram, etc.)
As I mentioned, my intent is to speed up the downloads, responsiveness, and video streaming a bit. The n generation of routers, used, can be had locally for as little as $35 all the way up to $75.
Some represent a savings of almost 60%, some just a few dollars. Any special brand you'd recommend? So many reviews mention that the previous versions of the Linksys(and Belkin, Netgear) routers are better and more reliable than the latest.
What do you think?

 

Thanks again, Tony. I might approach you for help with that channel change procedure. It is atheros not archos, of course. Bad, tired, old memory.

 

After you follow all previous posts you should also be able to improve your download/uploads speeds on both laptops by tweaking the tcp setting. Download this free utility program "SG TCP Optimizer" from http://www.speedguide.net/downloads.php
In the "General Setting tab" slide the bar to your ISP's stated connection speed your paying for and choose the Network Adapter you connect with for each laptop. By default your setting will grayed out under "current setting ". Choose "Optimal setting" than "apply" and view the changes the program will make. Ok them.. than recheck your download/uploads speeds.. post your results yea or nay..

 

My suggestion had nothing to do with the "already good broadband" connection speed of the wired computer vie the router. In this case the ISP's speed is at least (Download on the desktop7552, Upload 1385). Both wireless laptops were reported to have download speeds of about the half the speed of the wired desktop even when placed 4 ft away from the router. To better isolate the problem skaler2k should plug both laptops into the router vie a wired port and run the test again.. Ideally he should get about the same results as with the desktop. If he does than he has a possible signal problem when using wireless and or a TCP setting problem or both or something not yet discussed. I have used the SG Optimizer mostly on XP computers and found when downloading files the times were improved after running the Optimizer. This suggestion only tweaks the laptops handshake & connection between the laptop & the router.. As we all know Microsoft default setting are created to work across many conditions, and need to be tweaked from time to time.

 

Thank you drhans2 and Tony.
I renegotiated my contract with Comcast, as evidently my 12 month period of "promotion" has run out. My monthly fee for all 3-internet, TV, and phone, jumped by 50% roughly, from $105 to $155 per month. In response, I dropped what little I could to get the bill back to a more reasonable level. Among others, I dropped my 6mbps line down to a 1mbps. Evidently those are the only two options they offer. My corresponding fee for the internet then became ~$24 vs $43. I always have the option of going back up in speed. I'll see if the lower speed is tolerable, and just resign to living with it.
Using speakeasy speed test, my desktop now registers about 950 download and 371 up, quite a drop from 7552 and 1385.
I just tested my Dell Inspiron 1505 laptop-and it's speeds are 972 and 372. So, evidently the lower speeds are less prone to interference or whatever it was that caused the 50% or so drop in performance. There is usually a dramatic drop in speed around dinner time, which I guess is expected on a cable line. I never tested it during that time, but I swear it sometimes felt slower than my dialup connection from many years ago.
Anyway, thanks again for your time and input.
It is always a pleasure to be in your company. I recommend WindowsBBS to my co-workers whenever I can.

 

Well, so far, the internet seems tolerable. My wife hasn't complained either.
Not that she does-usually. I'm at the bottom wrt to TV-no Cinemax, HBO, high def, etc., I recall that when I signed up with Comcast, the options were 3 and 4 mbps for the internet. I was told that I had the 4mbps upon sign-on. Shortly thereafter, Comcast emailed me to state that they upgraded me, at no extra charge, to 6 because I was such a "good customer ".
Let's hope they come across with something similar.