Need DSL Hardware Recommendations

[ripdog]

Signed up with Earthlink, they're sending the modem. We plan on having our desktop hardwired to DSL and using a firewall router to run my wife's government issue laptop (with wireless card) periodically.

Our laptop does not have an ethernet card. We are leaning towards using a USB/Ethernet adapter--we don't want to crack the case. Suggestions?

Earthlink charges $8 per month to add wireless networking for up to four computers. They give you the router. Is this necessary? Can we buy our own firewall router and not pay the monthly fee? Any suggestions as to which router to buy? Ease of setup would be a big plus.

Are we forgetting anything? Thanks for any help.