Your cable ISP will probably have a list of models that they recommend. I second Sion's recommendation of the Motorola. They seem to be the "standard" in cable modems.
A router would be optional, however, a lot of Windows machines have probably been saved from infection because of that extra layer of protection.
NetGear and Linksys are OK.
Believe it or not, Microsoft makes a router that I was pretty impressed with.
http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/br...s.aspx?pid=001
Very easy to set up, and the user interface is very well designed. It will work with non-Microsoft operating systems.