One of the advances in printer technology allows you to share your printer over a wireless network. Many printers either come wireless-ready or work with an adapter you can buy. You must already have a wireless router to connect the printer to and your computers must be wireless-capable in order to print to a printer on the network.

Wireless Printers

If your printer is wireless-capable, you can connect the printer with just a few easy steps. The advantage of wireless printers is that they do not need to be connected to a computer. Once you have installed the ink and paper and have gone through the basic setup of your printer, you can set it up wirelessly. Using the printer's touchscreen or keypad, go to "Network Settings" and "Add Wireless Network." Check your documentation for the exact wording. The printer will look for your wireless router and ask you for its password. Input the password; the printer will then connect to your network and a wireless indicator will light up. This indicator will say "wireless" or look similar to an antenna with circles around the top. Now you will need to install the printer's drivers on the computers you want to print from. These computers will also need a connection to the wireless router in order to find the printer. Therefore, as long as you connect to the Internet wirelessly with that computer, it will find the printer on the router.

Non-Wireless Printers

It is still possible to share your printer on a wireless network if your printer is not wireless-capable. Connect your printer to your computer via a USB cable and install your printer's drivers. Next, click on "Start" (or the Windows Orb in Vista or Windows 7) and choose "Control Panel." Choose "Printers" and right click on the printer you are trying to share. Choose "Sharing" then click on the "Sharing" tab. Check "Share This Printer," then give the printer a name so that you can find the printer on the network. Click "OK." Now your printer is shared on the network. You make have to set the printer's approval in your firewall. In addition, if you connected your printer to a Vista computer, users will need the name and password of the computer to use the printer.

Using a Wireless Printer on a Mac

In order to use your wireless printer --- or any printer --- with a Mac, you will have to make sure it is compatible. If you have not bought the printer yet, you can check the hardware requirements. If Mac is listed with the operating system you have, you can use that printer. If you already own the printer, check your printer's documentation or see if Mac drivers are available on the printer manufacturer's website. Once you have determined that the printer is compatible with a Mac, the same process applies. If your printer is wireless-capable all you need to do with the Mac is install the drivers. This should install the printer and find it on your network. Your Mac must be wireless-enabled. If your printer is not wireless-capable, you will need to connect the printer directly to to the computer. If you are using an Airport router you can share the printer wirelessly by connecting to the Airport. If you are connecting your printer directly to your Mac, install the drivers then open the Apple menu at the top left of the screen and choose "System Preferences." Click on "Printer & Fax." Click on the sharing tab. Check "Share these Printers with other Computers." Close the preferences window. The Mac will have to be left on for other computers to use the printer.

Source:

Microsoft: Set Up a Wireless Network in a Small Office

Windows Networking: Wireless Networking - Your questions answered!

My First Mac: 1 Printer for Your Mac and PC