Router = LAN ??

OK, so a router sounds like a wise investment as well as a trouble free way to share an Internet connection. And now I am reading about how todays routers, usually reserved for Cable/DSL configs. can be used with dial-up networking and 56K anolog modems. And all this versility, comfort and convienence comes in at around 100 dollars? I'm sold! Don't laugh at the 166MMX's of the world.. but there's one more question. By just plugging my multiple machines into this magical piece of hardware, do I have an instant LAN ? Do they see each other in NETWORK NEIGHBORHOOD ?? Two machines on the Internet at the same time for one monthly bill is a very welcome and long awaited feature by itself. But is a router the only piece of hardware I must buy? Because none of the computers in my home have networking cards or ethernet cards or other NIC interfaces? I'm comming from Direct Cable Connection file sharing.
If I sound cheap, forgive me Some of us earn our pay. No one EARNS 6 figures, I don't care what they do! But anyone bringing down the big bucks should be the inovators and share the wealth by passing on some wisdom. Your cross to bear is to sound convincingly humble.. A shared Web connection is really all I'm interested in anyway. didn't plan on all the other s_#t
I'm tired..........................sm
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sidermike - Router <> LAN. Switch = LAN. Router = LAN can talk to the world.

166mhz is fine. No body here making bad sounds about them.

6 figure income - IMO, a person whose contribution directly adds 7 or 8 figure dollars to his company does for sure earn 6 figures. I know if I did the 7/8 thing, I would demand 6 for myself and unless they were crazy, my company would gladly pay it.

 

What's an NIC? Is it a network card or ethernet card? Is there any difference? Are they under 25 bucks a pop? What brands would you recommend? It all still sounds promising, so don't give up on me boys.
6 figures--- how does one go about adding 7 or 8 figures to a company? Maybe if they wrote a user friendly program to share Internet access, ahy?

 

NIC = Network Interface Card

Ethernet = a communications system for networks. Most common these days. TCP/IP and all that. The other major players have mostly gone away or are restricted to use in some large business organizations.

Unless otherwise specified, at this point when folks speak of networking (and especially Microsoft networking and internet in general) they are talking about an ethernet setup, TCP/IP protocol, and for home use, normally the cat5 (category 5) UTP (untwisted pair) cable with the RJ-45 ends on them (look like a huge phone plug).

A good "networking basics for home users" site is Here.

Also, check with any good book seller for a copy of "Networking For Dummies" which starts out assuming you cannot spell "network" and proceeds from there.

And feel free to ask more questions here as well. In fact, if the site above doesn't give you enough info to answer the parts of your question I ignored, post back. At this point, it would require some very long answers to your very short questions.