networking: not as advertised

I have a MacBook, a wireless router, a cable internet connection, and a network -ready laser printer. They have defied all my efforts to introduce them to one another. (well, the laptop and the internet get along alright, as long as the router isn't present.)
Searching for help, all I find are vague assurances from Apple that networking is SO EASY and WONDERFUL. Not so much!
Can anyone give me a first step? I would think that would be the router. Maybe the printer. At my wit's end here.

First things first-

1. What make/model is your router?
2. What brand is your printer?
3. Do you have the printer drivers installed?

Neo said:

I have a MacBook, a wireless router, a cable internet connection, and a network -ready laser printer. They have defied all my efforts to introduce them to one another. (well, the laptop and the internet get along alright, as long as the router isn't present.)
Searching for help, all I find are vague assurances from Apple that networking is SO EASY and WONDERFUL. Not so much!
Can anyone give me a first step? I would think that would be the router. Maybe the printer. At my wit's end here.

Click to expand...

Your right, you were lied to, Apple is just a scam to get your money. If you hurry you can sell your Mac and go get a nice new shiny Dell with Vista.

First steps to networking

1 Open a finder window, click applications, and then utilities.

2 Double click the “Network Utility” icon

3 Click the Ping tab

4 In the pleas enter the network address to ping test field enter the IP address of the computer that has the printer. If you are using WinXP and you don't know your IP address of your pc it is easy to find. First you click on start then right click My Network Places and then properties. From the network connections window, right click your local area network connection icon then click on status. Click the support tab and the IP address will be displayed.

5 Select the Send Only x Pings radio button and enter 5 in the text field.

6 Click the ping button if nothing happens it might be your router or firewall.

If all is ok then this is the next part.

1 Click the system preferences icon on the dock.

2 Click the sharing icon under internet and networking

3 Click the services tab

4 Enable the connections for Mac and windows sharing

5 Close the system preferences.

More steps

Then setup a network on the windows side and make sure the printer is shared then repeat steps 1, 2, 3 from above

4 Select the share these printers with other computers check box.

5 Click the printer you want to share. Then you are done.