You'll love it.

I have a desktop with XP and a laptop with XP. I got cable and then built this network:

D-link Cable modem DCM-200 (DSL modems available);
D-link DI-614+ Wireless router (has 4 Ethernet ports and 4 wireless ports);
D-link DFE-530TX+ NIC for the desktop;
D-link DWL-650 wireless PCMCIA NIC for the laptop.

Desktop NIC wired to the router with the Ethernet cord, laptop using wireless.

The good thing about getting matching components is that they recognize each other and the installation went flawlessly. So easy I didn't learn anything!! Wife carries the laptop around the house. Blistering speeds. I found all the components around the NET and got the router and wireless PCMCIA NIC for under a hundred. The modem will be around fifty or so. Or you can find all of them at the D-link site.

Also great support from D-link.

Good luck.