My wife and I are looking to play Neverwinter Nights computer game
together and, it would seem that the only way to do this is via home
network.  I know the basics of computers (have added RAM and video
card to desktop), but know absolutely nothing about networking, other
than that it looks complex!  The two computers we will be trying to
connect are A) HP Pavilion 6535 (Celeron - under 1 Ghz; Win 98; 256
RAM; 2 USB; 56K - no network card; not sure what else [if anything] I
should be listing here) and B) a Sony Vaio GRT 100 Notebook (Mobile
Celeron 1.8 Ghz; Win XP Home; 512 RAM; 3USB; 56k - no network card). 
We own our home, should holes need to be drilled in walls, etc.  I
wouldn't need anything fancy because I really just would like to be
able to transfer files, play the game, and possibly share a printer. 
My questions are:
A)do I have to install a network in order to do the above?
B)what is the cheapest/EASIEST (least complicated for novices) but
also efficient way to do this?
C)what will I need and where can I purchase the equipment cheaply?  
C)how do I then put it all together and get it working?
D)if I am confused even after your suggestions, what then? Or is there
somewhere I can turn for assistance (as mentioned previously, the
intricacies of networking are quite foreign to me and I could strain
the good nature of well-intentioned network gurus with my bewildered
questions.  Please spell things out to me, keeping in mind that I am
woefully ignorant about this networking stuff.  All I know is that I
have been urged to buy a "router" (!??) and a "hub" (!!!!????).  I
also heard that another option would be to install network cards in
the two computers and connect them with a network cable, connect them
to a hub (???), and that would be it.  Is there another option, using
phone lines?  Are these easy to do and how effective are these methods
(and how expensive?)?  Please let me know about these and any other
methods you deem appropriate for one with minimal skill/knowledge
about networking.  You Google researchers have saved my neck several
times now and I know you can help me with this latest debacle.

seeing as your question hasn't been answered and I can help...

A)do I have to install a network in order to do the above? 

you don't but it would be a lot cheaper than getting internet
connections for both computers and the transfer rate would be a lot
faster

B)what is the cheapest/EASIEST (least complicated for novices) but
also efficient way to do this?

if you were running winxp on both machines i would say wireless would
be easiest... networking is very easy if you get a network card for
the hp that windows 98 will auto detect (if not it can be a bit more
complex...installing driver).  you could also connect over usb network
adapters but they are limited in terms of speed and generally more
expensive.  To network you will need some cable, (building your own is
very easy, but so is buying it) and a free pci slot in your hp and a
pcmcia slot in your laptop (cardslot on side).
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=4556 - this is a cheap
100Mb card that I commonly use, but you will need to install drivers.
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=3916574 - pcmcia cards are
a little more expensive, but xp is great for detecting hardware.
next, you'll need to connect your computers.  with just two computers
you can use a crossover cable (direclty connect two computers) or you
can get a hub, switch or multiport router (more expensive, but useful
to share internet or if more than 2 computers eventually).  crossover
cables are fairly easily available and so are the hardware components.
 from the sounds of it i would reccommend a crossover cable (100 ft or
whatever you need)
once the computers are hooked up you'll need to set up the networking
in the operating system (more complex)
in xp  start - control panel - network - network connections 
right click on the adapter and select properties - you'll need to make
sure two protocols are there and if they aren't you'll need to add
them: Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) and NWLink IPX/SPX.
double click on TCP/IP - select use the following ip address - you
need to input the address of the machine - make this one 192.168.1.1
and change the subnet to 255.255.255.0
hit ok a couple of times to make the settings stick
next, on to the 98 machine (doing from memory)
go to "network" in the control panel and each the protocols for each
adapter make sure there are tcp/ip and ipx for the network adapter (if
not add them) and double click on tcp/ip again change the setting to:
use following ip address - make this one 192.168.1.2 - click ok a
couple of times and you'll have to reboot the computer
once this step is done the computers should be able to communicate
with each other
go to start - run and type: cmd (command in win98) and type: ping
192.168.1.2 from the .1 machien (or .1 if you are on the .2 machine)
if you get a response the machines can talk with each other, if not
repeat this step.

now you need to setup the filesharing (fast expanation), you'll need
to go back into network in control panel and make sure that sharing is
enabled (win98 file and print sharing for microsoft networks) - then 
on a directory or drive you want to share, right click and choose
sharing (there are some options - self explanitory).  You need to put
both of your computers on the same domain (again this is different in
98 and xp) in xp right click on my computer and click properties and
go to computer name and click change and choose a new workgroup name. 
right click on my network neighborhood on the 98 machine and choose
properties there should be a tab at the top where you can choose your
workgroup in the settings, set the same one and reboot the 98 machine.
 now you should be able to go into neighborhood network on both
computers and see the other computer show up.  you can now move files
back and forth and play games over the network .... few ...sorry if
its a bit sparatic, its late

C)what will I need and where can I purchase the equipment cheaply? 
  
i outlined in last section... i gave links to cards (cheap good store)
and the cable can be bought at a local store. pricewatch.com is always
a good site to find parts

C)how do I then put it all together and get it working? 

also outlined above

D)if I am confused even after your suggestions, what then? Or is there
somewhere I can turn for assistance

you can email me at joel@wedemire.com or you can wait for google to
answer your question :)

Joel,

Thanks for the help - why aren't YOU a google researcher?  Would I be
able to share printers and internet connection between the two comps
with the crossover cable/network card solution?  That certainly sounds
the easiest and cheapest.  Thanks again for the answer - I'd tip you
if I could!

in my opinion ,The cheapest/easiest solution is usb bluetooth.You
don't need network cards,cables and drills.. It's about 10m - 100m
open air and in home about 50m. prices is about 50$-80$ all computer
markets..you need 2 usb blutooth and widcomm 1.3.2.7 software..That's
all..Install hardware (only plug empty usb slot),setup program and
internet connection sharing,printer sharing,folders sharing are ready
!! Bluetooth uses TCP/IP ,same network cards.. and if you use
blutooth, you can connect PDA,some handy phones etc.. (If supports
bluetooth).Its very usefull..It's very easy and cheap..(mitsumi
WML-C52APR 10m version, about 50$  WML-C51APR 100m version,about 80$)

I suggest that you go with a cheap 802.11b wireless router and two
network cards (pcmcia wireless card for the vaio and pci or usb net
card for the other machine).

Why?  

802.11b (wireless) will have a range of a few hundred feet.  You can
share printers, files, and your internet connection via this network.

I would look on pricewatch for the hardware.   Netgear makes decent
equipment, as does dlink and linksys.

Don't mess with drilling holes and running cable... It is a pain in
the butt.

Most hardware will have instructions that make it easy to set up your
machines.

As per your requirements you can use two lan card for both the PCc and
can connect then through crosscable .It is the most cheap solution for
sharing in between two pcs for file transfer ,resources access such as
printer and internet sharing.

I'm not sure what this game is.  If you need to access the internet to
play, then both computers will need to share an internet connection. 
If it is a game shared between to computers, they need a path to
communicate.  In either case, you need at least one NIC for each
machine.  They are easily installed and less than $30 each.  You will
need to connect the two computers using either a router or a
cross-over ethernet cable.

 If you only have two computers and you don't need to share the
internet, then you don't need a router.  However, if the computers are
some distance apart, a wireless router would be much easier than
drilling holes and running wire.  Also, if you have a broadband
internet connection (DSL/cable modem), then a wireless router with a
broadband WAN port is the answer.  Since you mention that you don't
have a NIC in either computer, I doubt you have a broadband connection
to the internet.  So, you are probably using an analog modem.  You
will then need to set up ICS (internet connection software) if the
internet is needed to play this game.

If broadband is available in your area, I recommend it.  In the long
run, using broadband and a router to share an internet connection is a
better option than ICS.  With ICS, one of the computers is hosting the
internet connection and must be on for the other computer to share it.
 With a router, either computer can share the internet regardless of
the status of either computer.

If you use Bluetooth dongles, those littles devices that plug into the
USB port, then you will have a range of 30 Meters, and a connection
speed of 1Mb/s.  This is fast enough for your game. You can also
purchase bluetooth printers, PDA's, and numerous other devices that
would make a neat little home network. You could also use a pair of
network cards, which could currently give you sppeds of up to 1 Gb/s. 
You could use the Wi-Fi, which can give you speeds in the 10Mb/s
range, or you could use routers, hubs, or switches.  The cheapest
method would probably be the network cards, where you would be ables
to set up your network for a little nder 100 dollars.  No need to be
fancy.