What can switches do?

I am a very confused and possibly dissapointed person. I went over to circuit city to buy a NIC and found this great deal where I could get a 5 port switch for $40 if I bought it with the NIC and get a $40 mail in rebate, essentially getting the switch for free. So, I go with the deal assuming that switch is another name for hub(ok, you can laugh now if you want) and I now realize the great possibility of my error. Can a switch be used like a hub?

~Mix~

absolutly!!

well, actually a switch is better than a hub!!

w/ a hub, when rig.A send something (a request/find a file/anything. etc.) to rig.E, it have to search through all rigs.B~D everytime in order to find rig.E like a small town w/ many streets. in order to drive to ur friends house, u have to drive through every single street to find it.

w/ a switch, rig.A could send it directly (like they have their own highway) to rig.E w/out search the own local network for it.

hope it make sense to u.

Thank you so much. I was so affriad that I had just gone through all that rebate crap for a worthless hunk of plastic. I really appreciate your help, thanks.

~Mix~

no problem