I don't know how you would use two IP addresses, but if you can afford a cheap wireless router, that would be the easiest and most stable solution.

hub solution is the cheapest (if you can still buy cheap hubs?) but has several drawbacks:

1) both computers are directly exposed to the internet which is a security risk.

2) you won't get wireless for the notebook

3) the IP addresses may not be on the same subnet and local networking and filesharing may be very difficult, slow, or impossible -- not to mention a huge security risk as you're effectively filesharing over the net.

The better solution is to buy a wireless router.  I'm assuming the notebook already has a wireless card?  If not, you will need one if you want wireless on it.  Once it has a wireless card, you would buy a wireless router and you'd be set.  The other alternative would be ICS as you mentioned but you would need to buy a wireless card for the desktop as well in this case and given the generall hassle of ICS (having both computers turned on, double firewall issues, etc) I don't think it's worth the few dollars it might save.

Concour with the router.  802.11b routers can be had in the $25 range these days with rebates.

You can have up to 255 clients connected thru one of those IP addresses.

come on jm, cheap g routers can be had for that price these days (if you don't mind rebates of course)

http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?product_code=329138&pfp=srch1&ref=CJ

You forget, I'm in Europe, NOTHING is cheap over here!

Yes for the $, Tiger Direct (shameless plug) does ship to APO.

i actually never knew, though you did use a $ sign   ;p

yuck, I remember being in london for a term in school a few years back ...  paid more for a 4port 10/100 switch than I would have for a nice router back home.

they also don't pay their rebates ;p

edit:  though I have heard they're getting better

Message Edited by NemesisDB on 06-01-200602:42 PM

Yes, your friends are right. You can use ICS on the desktop to share your connection with the laptop.

If you want the laptop to be wireless (assuming it already has a wireless card), you simply need to get a wireless card for the desktop, so that it has 2 LAN connections (1 wired to cable modem, 1 wireless). 

If the desktop and laptop are relatively near each other (up to several metres / neighbouring rooms), you can use peer-to-peer wireless networking. This does not require a router or a hub or a wireless access point.  Here's a useful article about it:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/expert/bowman_02april08.mspx

If peer-to-peer doesn't hack it for you because of low signal strength over distances of more than say 10 metres, you can always get a router later.

Hope this helps.

Rom