sear previously posted:
"It's got few ports, and all mine are now in use." sear

Correction.
All 5 of the USB ports are in use. There are two others that are open. One is a port for a monitor (the Mac offers two, I use the DVI). The other is called a "mini-display port". That's idle.
The other open port looks a bit like a telephone port, but has more contacts in it.
I think the HP has such a port as well. It's labeled "Ethernet".
"As you already have a hub, you must already have a Local area network" Tracy

What NewEgg sold to me as a 4 port USB hub looks somewhat like this:

image

For a slew of them, check out
http://www.newegg.com
search "usb hub 4 port" and you should get pages of them.

I doubt I have a LAN, unless it's possible to have a LAN with one computer.

What I'm trying to figure out is, apart from the learning experience, is there a sensible reason for me to do this?
I'm more concerned with getting the HP on firm and useful footing, with media center (DVR) software that really works, reliably; and (if wishes / dreams are ever granted) sensibly.

"when the bigots of this world have been privileged for as long as they have, to them equality feels like discrimination." shiftless2