Butch54,

Since all systems will have XP Home, and ethernet cards, the only additional piece of hardware will be a router.  With only 3 systems, you can purchase a 4 port router.  Many folks have opinions and preferences on which brand of router is the best.  Linksys, Netgear and D-Link are among the brand names mentioned most often.  Dell's routers have a patchy reputation for reliability and performance.  Along with the router, you will need Cat5 cables to connect them all to the router. 

Once all of them have been connected to the router, you will need to configure the systems for file and print sharing. This will permit you to transfer files between the systems and for each system to have some access to the other systems.  Here is a useful hetworking tutorial from Microsoft:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/default.mspx

Steve

Message Edited by BigBrother on 02-11-2006 08:19 PM

Also here:

http://www.practicallynetworked.com/howto/
http://www.theeldergeek.com/quick_guide_to_simple_file_sharing.htm
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/default.mspx

You can also use switch, but if you're planning to have internet connection, you can use router!