USB: +Connect directly to the PC - do not require the PC to have a NIC. +Usually cheaper -Normally require vendor-provided drivers - are they available? -Can use a significant proportion of the bandwidth available on USB1.1 -Can only connect to 1 PC - need to configure the host PC as a router to allow a LAN to access the net.
Ethernet: +Leaves the USB bandwidth free for other devices (digital cameras, Flash drives, etc.) +Can connect direct to a hub/switch to allow the whole LAN direct access to the net (although this is not advisable without a firewall) +No special drivers required (AFAIK) -Usually more expensive -Require host PC to have a NIC - more expense if this is not already the case.
A cheap NIC would work well however, so this cost is not a big problem. Praise