Question regarding adding a laptop

[Drawoh Tesremos]

I currently have a PC a bit over 4 years old, which works well. I want to get another machine – a laptop - partly for my wife to use at home, and partly for either of us to use when we go away, both as a standalone device and for occasional internet access.

When at home, I would like to be able to operate the laptop through the same broadband connection that I am currently using for my PC.

Not being familiar with this sort of connection, I have a few questions, which I hope someone can advise me on.

Presumably I’m going to need a router of some description. My PC has no wireless capability. Would it be necessary, or even possible to add anything to the PC to give that capability? Or is it possible to get a router which would serve the PC using wires, and the laptop using wireless?

Is it likely that my ISP needs to be informed about two machines using the same connection? And would they need to make any adjustments to my connection?

Is there a minimum config I need to look for in the laptop?

Ideally, but not essentially, I’d like to be able to access my printer from both PC and laptop. Is this feasible?

Are there any relevant questions I haven’t thought about asking?

 

[Drawoh Tesremos]

Thanks, TomEIZ and Draeger, for your optimistic responses.

Regarding your question about the printer, Draeger, I've got an Epson DX6050 scanner/inject printer.

 

[Drawoh Tesremos]

Once again, thanks to those who responded to my query.

Being the holiday season, I haven't been able to do anything about laptop or router yet, but I am expecting to do so this coming week.

Thinking further about it, I have one further question which I don't know the answer to. And that is - where does my existing modem fit in?

Is the system set up as:

phone socket <--> modem <--> router <--> computer

or

phone socket <--> router <--> modem <--> computer

or does the router replace the modem, thus giving

phone socket <--> router <--> computer


I'm sure that any documentation that comes with the router will explain, but it would be useful to know in advance.

 

[Drawoh Tesremos]

excellent. thanks for the response, sneakypenguin