To offer my feeble three cents:
>From what I have learned, a router is a device that can parcel out packets
(read: share an Internet connection) and (depending on its features) serve
as a firewall as well.
A hub is like a good ol' cable TV splitter. One signal in, two (or three or
four or whatever) signals out.
There are on the market router/hubs with descriptions such as: "A four-port
___<enter brand name here>__ router." In the case of the four-port Linksys
router I bought (and struggled with, though eventually to good purpose), it
can split an Internet signal among four devices.
That said: Be aware that Excite@Home, a major broadband cable modem service,
is in deep financial doo-doo. AT&T is a major shareholder and the majority
vote-holder. It might help pick up the pieces. Or not.
But Excite&Home (aka, At Home Corp.) itself is in peril. Wish it weren't so,
but 'tis so. (The latest: One of the investment groups that in June ponied
up $50 million -- in the form of convertible notes -- on Monday said, "Yo,
we want our money back.")
RoadRunner (part of AOL Time Warner) might pick up the pieces. Or not.
Dang, but it was easier a couple of years ago.
Buyer beware.
Cheers,
--Chuck
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