A few questions about the Starview

[scrappydez]

So N3 has finally arrived for me this week, time to upgrade.
I've had a good look around the forum and I've decided to get a Starview HD combo but just needed a few questions clarified.

• Does this box always have to be connected to your modem
• Is the USB option to update the only method, can a serial cable do it
• When fitting an internal hard drive will a standard PC hard drive do
• Can a sky disc be inserted or must it be non sky
• Will N3 affect this box in the future
• Am i overlooking a different box, HD or not

Thanks for any help you can give me.