h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I now have a shiny new laptop, and am hoping to have it talking to the interweb very soon (but have to wait for a new ethernet cable, apparently).

I don't need to transport it around the country, so I have bought a fairly substantial one with a 17" screen, but I would like to be able to use it in different rooms in the house, so I'll be getting a wireless router. Could anybody (hello Peet!) advise me how best to go about this? I only have the basic TV/broadband/phone package from V*rg*n M*d**, so they won't give me a free one - they have quoted £40. PC World, where I bought the laptop, said £50 - £100, and Maplin's have one for £34.99. Would it be better to get the one from VM, or would any one do?

Any tips gratefully received - in technonumpty language, please!

annie, what kind of modem to you have for your broadband - does it have the facility to connect to the computer with a network (RJ-45) cable, or just a USB cable?

If the former, then pretty much any cheap wireless router will do the job. (I use one of these: http://www.svp.co.uk/technology/networking/networking-wireless/wireless-cable-routers/tp-link-tl-wr340g-54mbps-wireless-router-mte006_wireless-router-with-fixed-antenna.html which is about £15 plus postage...)

Hi Peet - it's a cable modem, supplied originally by ntl. It was connected to the old computer with a USB port, but I think it can connect with a network cable, just that the one I had doesn't work with the new laptop - I'm waiting for Virgin to send me a new cable.

Thanks for the link - I'll keep you posted. (And thanks to DKB for noticing my cry for help!).

Using a computer at the local library today, as I've got the day off work.

Back online at home - woohoo! Couldn't wait for Virgin to send me a new network cable, so went and bought one from PC World. All up and running now.