Skype handsets

[happy_face]

Am thinking of buying one to use with my laptop but am a bit unsure on how exactly they work and what's the best to go for.
I have broadband at home via telephone line, do I need to be logged on the net with my pc in order for the skype phone to work? Are there any of the handsets that you can just plug into the broadband socket on the wall and it would work without the pc?
I've seen a cordless handset which looks nice and it says it's a combined Skype phone and normal telephone, how does that work?
Am so confused, any help will be much appreciated.
thanks

[lady_p_gold]

well we just use a headset and mike to chat on Skype just like we do on MSN or Yahoo messenger, which plug into the headphone socket. No handset required.

[happy_face]

yes I use that at present but would like to know about the handsets