Sharing a printer

[Lisi]

On Tuesday 13 April 2010 16:50:18 NW wrote:
> We have three computers at home. The desktop is linked by cable to the
> router. The two laptops access the internet via wifi from the router.
>
> There is one printer connected to the desktop by cable. It occurs to me
> that there should be a way for the laptops to access the printer via the
> network.
>
> I have been looking around via google, and getting more and more
> confused. It can't be too difficult surely. Can anyone start me off
> please? I know that there are such things as a wifi enabled printer and
> a printer server etc. Am I asking to much to expect to have the laptops
> send a print command to the desktop computer which would act as a
> printer server I suppose.
>
> More info: desktop Kubuntu Hardy. One laptop Mint 7 Xfce. The other
> laptop Windows XP.

Provided that you have the relevant packages loaded (cups client and cups 
server), CUPS will do this for you automatically.  Or should I say 
automagically?  ;-) 

Lisi