Never suggest to people unfamiliar with basic home networking to get a hub. Always switch because they do not know any better and may well go find a real hub instead of switch.
Also, it is unlikely that most PC weenies where the person is going(best buy, future shop, radio shack, etc) will know the meaning of "drop-cable"(at least in north america). So people should be told patch cable instead because that is what the so-called geniuses ( :lol: ) at those stores will know it as.