Choices for Ethernet cards, firewall software

[vsp]

My countdown to Verizon DSL is down to about eight days. They installed a box within visual distance of my apartment not long ago, and I jumped at their current deal (flat $50 per month, no setup/termination fees, no contract length, free camera, free modem).

Two pieces of the puzzle remain:

* Any particular Ethernet cards out there I should pick up? (There are generic cards available for a pittance, but there may be things I don't know about those.)

* I'm running Windows 98SE and Norton Antivirus. Will Norton Personal Firewall be sufficient for my (simple) needs?

(I'm quite aware that firewall software is sort of like locking your car door and turning your car alarm on -- if a pro wants in, a pro will get in, but it may fend off the casual thug. If it'll help keep the average script kiddies from screwing with my computer and won't require a whole lot of tweaking, it's good enough for me.)

jeff. reeeeeeeeeally looking forward to 768k