Newbie question about networking

[WJ Seidl]

I'm beginning to attempt to connect a Kubuntu (Feisty) system to an 
already up and running WinXP network with
4 other computers. (New to Linux (2 weeks), but love it.  Still mostly 
operating through the KDE GUI, but learning...)

Ethernet cable connected to a (wireless) router serving all other 
computers (2 wireless, 2 ethernet cabled).

I can ping each of the other computers, including the wireless ones.
I have an internet connection on the Linux box, working fine through 
that router (using Firefox and Konqueror), and can send and receive 
email through Thunderbird. It configured itself, all I did was plug in 
the ethernet cable...a fact for which I am grateful.)
However, I cannot seem to find the place (K-menu?) in which I should be 
able to "see" the other desktops, such as you can in "Network Places" on 
the XP boxes. Also, so far I cannot connect to any of the printers (2) 
connected to the network through the other computers.  They are "local" 
printers each connected to a desktop being shared on the network.

Samba is installed (but not configured?), as is NFS 
(K-menu>System>Shares told me I needed them with an error message, so I 
put them in this morning with Adept.) I am starting to read the Samba 
documentation (samba.org), but it seems from what I read that Samba is 
better at making the linux box a server than just another workstation 
(desktop), which is all I really need. (I'm ashamed to admit it, but all 
I'm going to be using the Linux box for is a sort of giant iPod for 
music storage, played back through a stereo system on-site.) I would 
like it networked to the others so that I can select and initiate play 
lists from "my" desktop, located in another part of the building. (Hey, 
it gives me an excuse to try to learn Linux, and hopefully migrate 
everything else over to it later <g>.)

Questions therefore:

1) Is there a basic (as in REALLY basic) guide to establishing what I 
need to make this linux box "see" the other computers, and where can I 
find it? I have the Kubuntu desktop guide, and I also have the Kubuntu 
chapter of the Official Ubuntu Book (both of which I'm reading, but I 
think I'm confusing myself with it.
2) Must I configure Samba and reconfigure my network so that the Linux 
box is actually the server? (Most of our software is MS based, and will 
cause undue economic stress to change it all...not all programs are 
replaceable with Linux versions, such as Quickbooks)
3) Am I confusing what a "server" actually is in this scenario? (Can the 
applications in the MS boxes continue to reside on their respective 
desktops and be shared as they are now through the network).

I know it's a lot to ask, but I would appreciate your input. You all 
seem to be "old-hands" at dealing with this, and I'm grateful you're here.
Best,
WJ Seidl