Yeah, it makes a difference but it doesn't sound like you have special requirements. If "g" speed is good enough for you (and it is unless you're doing fancy stuff like streaming hd movies and online gaming at the same time) (there is also the newer and more expensive "n" and "ac" standards), I second the recommendation of the Linksys WRT54G. They're common as dirt, simple and reliable. Newegg or Amazon for the best price. Refurbs are fine.
OTOH, D-Link is fine too, and if you were happy with it until it died, nothing wrong with getting another just like it. Yeah, it died, but they all do eventually. You can't really expect a consumer grade router to last more than 2-3 years. I've had some last longer but I count that as luck.
Asus and Netgear make some good ones too. If you find a model with 4 or better Amazon/Newegg stars/eggs from a large enough sample of reviews, that's a winner. I haven't used open source firmware yet, but I hear it's often better and has more features than what the manufacturers provide, so if the reviews say it supports it, that's a plus.
Generally, you do NOT need any software that comes with a router. It's just hand-holding for newbies in the form of bloatware. The firmware in the router is normally all you need, and updating to the latest version is usually a good idea.
