Makeshift network for ugrade process

In my moms place, she has:

-an old Dell 4550 on XP ( internet ready, network card, never been home networked)

-a new  Dell 9200 on Vista on the way (internet ready), network card,  never been home networked)

-no router

-high speed AOL broadband modem

 

To facilitate data and some app transfers, I would like to somehow 'network' the two machines, but not screw up an settings on the new 9200. Is this possible?

 

I know there is a free Windows Easy Transfer downlaod with some sort of "Easy Transfer Cable", so I gather all this is all doable

 

Questions

1) What type of cable is it:  I gather is not just a standard network cable that I see everywhere? Is it ethernet or USB??

2) Am I restricted to using  Windows Easy Transfer??

3) Does it mess with any of the internet/network settings on the new 9200?