MAC AND IBM NETWORKING!

I am new with MACS and my question may be real dumb but can MAC computers be networked with IBMS? I have a small LAN at home and I am buying a MAC G4, I know it is possible but someone just told that it will not work? They also told me that I will not be able to share the printer hooked in the LAN with my MAC. What would I need? Isn't AppleTalk the solution here? I am lost and would appreciate some helpful information before buying my MAC.
Thanks guys!
PS: Where are the settings in the MAC to install a network printer and so on?

1. RE: MAC AND IBM NETWORKING!
stephenl Jun-05-02 08:58 AM
In response to message 0

Dont know too much about MACS but their must be some setting were you can setup an Appletalk printer checkout there website.
By IBMS i think you mean just IBM pcs ? If so you need appletalk protocol installed and them for the MAC to be able to see the shares on them you cant do it the otherway without buying a thirdparty program i think anyway (if im wrong someone tell me)

5. RE: MAC AND IBM NETWORKING!
lbyard Jun-05-02 10:54 AM
In response to message 1

A Mac can be networked with and share a printer with IBM PCs on a Windows network using the Ethernet. Discussion of it from some time ago is in this forum. Now the big question: Why in the world do you want a Mac? If they were better, more reliable, more cost effective, faster, friendlier, and could do something that an IBM PC compatible can't do, I'd buy one. They aren't, they aren't, usually cost more, generally slower, they aren't, they can't, and I haven’t. Larry

6. RE: MAC AND IBM NETWORKING!
Carlos Jun-05-02 02:45 PM
In response to message 5

Thanks guys for the help!
I totally agree with you Larry with what you said about MACS being too slow, etc. The reason why I'm getting one is only to expand my knowledge and experience in the networking field (with both types of computers, PCs and MACs) I totally agree with you though.
I think MACS may have been better for the graphic design industry some time ago, but that has changed and no wonder PCs are more popular now... YEAH! (and easy to use)
Thanks again, I will look for the information related to my question which you said it is located somewhere in this forum.

8. RE: MAC AND IBM NETWORKING!
lbyard Jun-05-02 04:05 PM
In response to message 6

Just search with the Site Search to the left with Mac. You'll find what is available here besides this thread. I updated the search engine catalog last night.
I thought of another possible reason to get a Mac after my post. You are a teacher and your school uses them. Another is fanaticism... Actually, many years ago I was an Apple enthusiast, quite negative on the IBM PC, and used some of the first Macs and a Lisa (if anyone can remember those). Of course that was back in the days when the user interface on an IBM-compatible was the DOS prompt. If Apple had played its cards right Jobs would be the richest man in the world. Perhaps they still could to a lesser degree, considering the fact that the latest Mac O/S is unix-based. If Xerox had played its cards right neither of them (Microsoft or Apple) would have had much of a chance. I am sure other Mac users would appreciate some input networking them (it they can get past my insults). Larry

9. RE: MAC AND IBM NETWORKING!
ChAoTiC Jun-06-02 07:08 PM
In response to message 0

Hi, my ex-girlfriend bought a mac g4 and a made a network with my pc with a routeur. I installed DAVE on the mac computer and now i can share any folder on the mac. But at this time, i cant share any folder from my pc...