Just to close out this thread, I learned a lot this weekend on the different
WiFi technologies and their appropriate use. I settled on a Netgear
Wireless router (WGR614v2) and Netgear CardBus adapter (WG511). Pretty easy
to set up even though the adapter gave me a challenge on one of my laptops.
The challenge was not due to Netgear, rather to XP and some corrupt files.
Still trying to sort this out.

Thanks Mister K for your response.