difference between wireless router and wireless access point

[natkroll]

I'm not really sure what the difference between these two are but I have an idea.

Tell me if i'm right.
I'm going to compare wireless to wired. A wireless router is the same as a wireed router. It hides all the clients behind on IP and assigns and internal IP. A wireless access point is like a wired switch. It can handle multiple connections and the IP is assigned by the router/server further up the chain.

Is this at all right?

The reason I ask is because I'm at a college. They allow us to hook wireless things up in our rooms and I'm wondering what would be best for me to use. Since access points are generally cheaper, that's what I would prefer to buy. I have a switch hooked up now and each computer has a separate IP, so does that mean I can use an access point in it's place and be ok?

Thanks.

[Kendan]

Yes you are right. But for some reason plain access points can be more expensive than the wireless router access points.

[bdf24]

And also if your getting seperate IP addresses right now with a switch. Then you should be fine with an Access point instead of a router. Your IP's must be assigned by the schools server via DHCP I'm assuming.But if the router is cheaper then I'd get that of instead of course.