Do I want a wireless printer?

I need a new all-in-one printer. I have a wireless home network, with laptop (vista) and desktop (xp) computers. I see there are wireless printers. Do I need a wireless printer, or could I make just any printer work from both my laptop and my desktop with my wireless home network? I'm assuming that wireless printers cost more than non-wireless.

 

You can share any printer through Windows. I have a printer attached to a desktop PC that I share through my wireless home network. That PC must be on for other computers to use the printer but does not require any special hardware. There are also printers which feature an Ethernet cable connector allowing it to be attached directly to a router.

 

Yep, you're talking about printer sharing. But, if he wants a networkable printer that can be connected to a router and thereby become available to any computer on the network without any other computer being powered on, then he needs a network-ready printer. While some models may be only connected to a router via cable, most networkable printers are also wireless-capable; there doesn't seem to be much of a price differential between wired vs. wireless. Here's a good deal on a Canon printer: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16828102316

 

Thanks for all the help. Very instructive. Sounds like wireless is a bit easier all around. If there's not much difference between wireless and non-wireless, I guess wireless is the way to go.