I'm getting ready to set up wireless printing for my two desktops (Dell Dimension 9100 with XP Pro and Dell XPS 420 with Vista Ultimate) and my laptop (Dell XPS M1710 with Vista Ultimate). The reason for setting up wireless printing is simple: too many incompatibilities with my current home network and the printer I'm using (Dell AOI 942).

 

I'm on a wireless DSL router and the home network is already wireless, for the sake of my laptop and my smartphone. The two desktops are hardwired (Ethernet) to the router. 

 

My plans are to invest in a wireless printer which will recognize the wireless network, inserting itself as a "network" printer with capabilities of printing from any one of the computers.

 

The printer I have tentatively picked is 802.11b/g and Ethernet - capable.

 

Here is my gameplan:

(1) If both wireless and Ethernet can be used simultaneously, then I simply connect the printer to the wireless router, which would allow for printing from the two desktops (I think). I would then print wirelessly to the printer with the laptop.

(2) If I have to pick either wireless OR Ethernet, then I'm not sure where to go from here. I think that I would need wireless adapters for each of the desktops (they don't have that capability currently) and make the entire network wireless (I think I could then ditch the Ethernet cables). The other option might be to use a wireless printer server but then I think I will still need wireless adapters for the desktops (or not).

 

I really need for all of my computers to talk with my printer.

 

Thanks, in advance, for any help you can give,

Mark.