Networking Computers?

I just recently bought a laptop and was wondering if it is possible to hook it up to my friends computer who has broadband internet connection. and how i would go about hooking it up.

also i bought a pci lan card because i thought my desktop did not have one but i did so i have an extra one and was wondering if there is any software out there that allows me to turn my friends computer into a router so i can connect his broadband into one lan card then take a cable and connet from the second lan card to a lan hub. then connect his xbox and my laptop to the internet at the same time through the hub.

After you have things connected, just go in his network connections, select both NICs, right click, and choose "bridge connections"

Or you could just plug the broadband into the router, and plug both computers and the Xbox into it as well...

But... it seems you're hinting is that all you have is a hub, and that wouldn't resolve the ip issues. However, I don't think the way you're wanting to do it would fix those either.

I'm going to say, in my non-network-expert opinion, that you're going to need a router.

Anybody want to enlighten me?

You don't "Need" a router. But it just takes out the headache if you get one. Besides everyone should have a router anyway. Not only for sharing internet but also for security reasons.

I've got 2 routers and a hub... all pretty much for "just in case" reasons.