http://cableforum.co.uk/board/showthread.php?t=33018 < heres a bunch of routers you can look at.. I have the wrt54g.
My laptop came with a wireless PCIMIA (sp??) card, I think you might need to connect to the router through a ethernet cable just to set it up as a network and all the security features but after that, you'll be able to access it wirelessly through your laptop. The wrt54g does seem to have botchy access restriction settings but if its just you wanting to use the net and no-one else then it shouldn't be an issue.