Are Nildram or Boltblue any good?
and is it true you need a Ethernet card? how much are good ones suitable for
home use?

Dave McMahon enlightened the world by saying on 26/09/2003 21:22:
You only need a ethernet card if you intend to connect to you broadband
ISP using a router. Routers are hubs that share the broadband connection
to multiple PC's. Each PC connects to the hub using ethernet.

Most ISP's give USB modems, which DON'T need ethernet, instead connect
to you PC using it's USB socket. Modems are however only really
suitable for connecting a single PC.

Hope that helps.

As for ISP's have a look at the ISP ratings at www.adslguide.org.uk