As more and more of us move to broadband Internet connections, having a network router has become a necessity. Although routers oftentimes seem overly complicated, recent advances in user-friendliness have made routers of all types very easy to setup.

If you are looking for a new router for your home, there are basically two main types to consider:

-Wired Network Routers: These routers use standard network cables for all of their connections. Generally, the cable or DSL modem provided by your ISP is plugged into the router, with all of the computers in your home also connected via network cables. For homes that include high-speed wiring, this generally involves connecting your router to the appropriate connections for the rooms you want to use your Internet connection. In each room, you then connect your computer via network cable to the appropriate jack. Wired connections are generally faster and more reliable, but do require that your home be wired for use with a wired router - or your willingness to drag netwok cable around as needed.

- Wireless Routers: Most wireless routers also include wired network ports, allowing you to use both. For example, if your cable modem is placed at your main computer, you can use a wired connection for this computer since it is only a few feet away. The wireless router then allows you to connect other computers via wireless adapters - perfect for a notebook computer or another desktop in a room that is not set up for a wired connection. Note that wireless routers generally cost a bit more than wired routers, and the wireless connection might not be as fast as a wired connection.

Whichever way you decide to go when choosing a router, your setup should be fairly painless. Most modern routers are pretty much plug and play - requiring both a minimum of time and fuss to set up properly.