Router vs. Switch

[hixtwin2]

My husband recently intended to by a wired router so that my son could play online from his PS3. Instead he bought a switch by mistake. Can I still use a switch instead of getting a router? Right now I connect with either one, but if I have my ethernet cable for my pc plugged into the switch he cannot get online w/ his PS3. If I unplug the pc ethernet cable from the switch & reboot my modem, he can. I don't understand all of this stuff & neither does my husband.....someone please help me. I'd be very grateful for your assistance.

 

[sturm]

You will need a router to share the internet connection with more than one computer. The routers that they have for home use are actually a combination of a router and a 4 port switch in one box. These take the internet connection from the modem and essentially makes a new network with its own ip address range.
A switch simply directs info from one port to another port based on the computers IP address/mac address. Switches don't give out IP address.