Networking of M/S windows desktop computer & Apple laptop computer

[wpshooter]

I have a friend that is using a Microsoft windows XP desktop computer and his daughter is using an Apple/Macintosh laptop top computer for school purposes.

They have a wireless router which is allowing both computers to access the Internet thru their U.S. Cellular aircard.

The problem is that they only have 1 USB printer which is physically attached to the M/S desktop computer.

They have not been able to figure out how to print to that printer from the Apple laptop.

Should/will the shared use of the router allow both the desktop & the laptop to both print to that printer ?

Or do they need to do a sharing of either the printer or the entire M/S desktop computer facilities with the Apple laptop in order for the laptop to be able to print to the desktop's printer ?

I have never used any type of Apple product before !!! Is there a feature in the Macintosh O/S similar to the "File and printer sharing for Microsoft Networks" in Windows that will allow the Apple to communicate with the Microsoft desktop and if so, where would it be located, i.e. basically how do you setup a LAN between a M/S desktop and an Apple laptop ?

Thanks.

 

[imagoon]

First check to see if there are mac drivers for the printer. If there isn't you are out of luck. When you try to add the printer, Most newer Macs can connect to a windows shared printer with no configuration at all. You go in to add a printer and do "search network" and click it off the list same as an Windows machine. You have to install the Mac drivers manually.

This assumes the XP machine has shared the printer and it is otherwise working.

 

[wpshooter]

First check to see if there are mac drivers for the printer. If there isn't you are out of luck. When you try to add the printer, Most newer Macs can connect to a windows shared printer with no configuration at all. You go in to add a printer and do "search network" and click it off the list same as an Windows machine. You have to install the Mac drivers manually.

This assumes the XP machine has shared the printer and it is otherwise working.

Thanks for the info.

Are there Mac drivers for most HP printers ?

Also, there is no wired/physical connection between the desktop and laptop. Will this printing function be routed thru the same wireless router that is allowing the sharing of Internet connectivity ?

Thanks.

 

[imagoon]

HP drivers for Macs should exist for most of the printers. The printer functions should carry over the existing wireless unless there is something atypical in the way you set it up.