Yes, it's quite possible to use a cell phone to connect your laptop to the Internet. It's called tethering. Now, your phone may not have that capability but many "smartphones" can. Unfortunately, it tends to be a bit expensive. You'll need to pay for voice service, a data plan, and typically an additional fee of $20+ per month for tethering. Connection speed can vary widely as well, depending on the quality of the connection wherever you are using the laptop. There are also standalone devices that allow a wireless connection as well. Typically the connect to the a USB port. All the major carriers offer them and they cost $75-$100 to buy and then $40+ per month in data fees. Again, as with using a cell phone to tether, connection speed can vary. If you have access to DSL or cable, you're probably better off going that route unless you need a mobile connection.

I now have windows 7- it seems a bit different, as there is no 'network connections' on the control panel list. I tried 'wireless assistant', and 'internet options'. On 'internet options' there is 'connections', which I cliccked on. Then 'dial-up' and 'Virtual Private Network Settings' popped up- but didn't show any network settings, secured or not. I used to be able to click the little computer icons on the taskbar, but they aren't there anymore. I have tried to 'customize' my taskbar, but can't find a way to get the computer icon again. Any suggestions with win 7?

I would think that any name brand wireless router will work fine. I have a DSL modem supplied by the phone company, and a 4-port Belkin Pre-N wireless router I bought separately a couple of years ago. The incoming signal goes to the modem, and then an Ethernet cable goes to the router. Hard wired devices plug into the ports in the back of the modem via Ethernet cable. My router can handle 4 hard-wired devices, and 32 wireless devices. I have 4 PCs hooked up to it (1 wired, 3 wireless), a Roku box (wireless), and a printer (wireless). The only thing to keep in mind about cable is that speeds can vary depending on how many people in the neighborhood are online at any given time. DSL is a constant speed, and since mine is 3 Mbps, that's enough for me. Have you checked to see whether your DSL supplier can provide a higher speed? Last year, my speed was 1.5 Mbps and I asked if they had anything higher in my area. They said they had 3.0 available for the same price. When I asked why they hadn't just bumped up my speed, they said they were only allowed to change my account if I called to request and authorize it first! I said: Who wouldn't want twice the speed for the same price? They said they just wanted to be sure this was something I wanted! At any rate, 10 seconds later I had twice the speed. Lastly, since you're mixing PCs and Macs on your system, I don't know if that would cause any problems. I have have friends with Macs who visit and they can get on my system (when I give them my security code) with no problem. However, if you are switching providers, you should ask first if there could be any problems.

Yes a router normally has a built in hardware firewall which definitely helps keep your pc more secure. I have verizon fios (fiber optic internet) and I have a dlink router that my ethernet cable plugs into straight out of the wall, then from the router I plug in an ethernet cable to my various pcs, it serves as modem and router. a router should be set up with the firewall active, and it should be set up with a good password not left with the standard one that came with it. A Nat router is a hardware firewall where as programs like zonealarm are software firewalls, I always recommend using both especially with any type of broadband connection.