We have a home network-5 computers sharing files and a DSL Internet connection. Using WinProxy as firewall (on server) - no complaints (using Winproxy Antivirus on server and each Client machine has its own Antivirus software). A friend suggested that a router would have better firewall protection (don't really have that much to protect), and be easier to setup, than the software. Any suggestions? if a router is the way to go, what do you suggest?

If you have no complaints, why change anything?

If you, like me (...:)), suspect the system having a vulnerable point in the server machine and want it exchanged to something more failsafe - then you should put a router there instead. You might find some model with an inbuilt printer server too and that's cool. Then this doesn't make it possible to throw away the firewalls. In my opinion every machine should have a software firewall making sure you aren't letting any unexspected packets slip away.

Does this make any sense (or did I misunderstand anything in your post) to you?

If I am understanding you correctly, you are saying that I need both the router and the software firewall. Is that correct? Are there any routers that you recommend?

Linksys to me makes the best at home routers with built in NAT support.

Yes, that's right.
In my opinion it's necessary to have a software firewall. There are to many trojans and other weird stuff out there. Besides that it's also good to discover other kinds of unexpected, not always asked for, attempts by Explorer, Word, bla bla and others to connect places. The software firewall also checks your apps and stop their activity if they have been tampered with.

A recommended one? I would choose one with a built-in printserver if you not allready got a such little goodie. Brand is of less interest - I have been running a very cheap little box from D-link without any problems for two years now. Other may have models they recommend but to me it seems as they all do their job. You might want to go for reviews at ttp://www.practicallynetworked.com or another similar place.

If you got the money, buy a router... If your main machine have problems (think in anything) all your net will be compromised...

They all work with NAT-technology, don't they.

What make linksys better? (Ok, if it's cheaper you are probably right.) Have you found a good comparing review site somewhere that recently published something?