My new client has 2 PC's running 98SE and 2 Powerbook 5300cs's with verified connections to and 8 port hub...I am not very experienced with Mac's and I need to get them to talk to one another and mutually share an HP6MP...I was told by a Mac person that 98 has a setting to connect to Mac's that I am unable to find...do I need specila software? If so, where do I get it...is there freeware or shareware available?

Try installing Appletalk protocol. Not sure
if it comes with Win 98, but I know it
comes with Win 2K.

You might also try setting up a Windows
NT server or Win 2K Server and enabling
Macintosh Services, then setup Mac
Accessible volumes

Well, first of all let me say am sorry you are dealing with 5300 (slow)...There are few options to look at...First you could get a NT or 2000 server and enable "Services for Macintosh" or you could buy some junk 3rd party software to put on the 98 Machines like CopsTalk or PC Lan and make the 98's speak pure appletalk (Slows the 98's down).

If you are going to stay 4-10 machines for a some time you could try this: If that HP has a NIC, I know it supports appletalk so let the Mac's print directly to the printer using appletalk and directly attach the printer to one of the 98's (don't worry about making the mac's centeralize their printing). And for file sharing why not use file and print sharing between the 98's, Appletalk between the macs and between the 98's and Mac's use FTP. There are tons of shareware that will turn your macs into ftp servers...(Hey, that's my cheapest solution..rough on the end user as far a complex but cheap on the pocket book).