Networking my Mac with a PC

I run my Mac Mini (OS X 10.6) wirelessly from a bedroom in our house while my wife runs her Windows Vista laptop from the lounge where it is connected by a LAN cable to the router/modem. My computer is connected by a USB cable to a printer but I would like my wife to be able to print from it too. Is that possible and, if so, how? I know nothing about networking so answers please as non-technical as possible. Thanks.

Point of clarification: When you say "My computer is connected by a USB cable to a printer", would that be the Mac Mini you're referring to?

That's right.

Have a look at this:

Mac OS X 10.5 Help: Sharing your printer with Windows users

Thanks. I'll work through those possibilities. One other complication. My Mac is connected to a printer which is compatible only with Windows (and we can't afford a new one right now!) so right now I can only print through my Windows virtual machine on Parallels. If the printer is linked to the virtual machine and obviously the virtual machine is active, presumably there will be no problem my wife's PC linking to the printer. Am I right?

P.S. All the SMB/CIFS stuff in the article completely loses me especially as regards setting up the Windows end. But since I'm not interested in sharing files, maybe Bonjour is easier to set up. Right?

Let's back up a bit - what make and model of printer is it?

It's an HP Laserjet 1018.

Mikethebook said:

P.S. All the SMB/CIFS stuff in the article completely loses me especially as regards setting up the Windows end. But since I'm not interested in sharing files, maybe Bonjour is easier to set up. Right?

Click to expand...

Since you're not interested in file sharing, try the Bonjour route. Your HP 1018 is not a wireless model otherwise it would be easier. Make sure you install the Bonjour utility for Windows on her Vista notebook.

Thanks for that.