Cant see other PCs on my network

Being the owner of a Macbook since last Saturday, and being assured, several times that I would have no problems adding it to my existing network, I am shocked to find the amount of postings on the internet with similar problems, without any concrete resolve. I contacted the support at Apple and was told that the problem "is most probably with my Vista PC's or router". Now, after trying every possible setting there is on both the Vista PC's and my Macbook, the problem is still not resolved. Perhaps, there is someone at Apple or out there on the WWW, who can take on this problem:
Existing network:
An Acer PC connected via ethernet to a Paradyne 6218 4 port router/wireless modem. The PC is running Vista Home Basic. I have a Canon 4300i printer connected to it via USB.
A Toshiba Equium laptop connected via wireless to above router. It's running Vista Home Premium. I can use the printer via the network. Both machines were are fine, can read & write to each other, use media files and internet access with out problems.
Then I introduced my Macbook to the network.
I have so far: disabled all firewalls, changed account names to match, shared everything possible, checked IP addresses and IP subnets, switched the machines on and off in different sequences, reset the router and a dozen other things, all to no avail.
My PC's can see, (sometimes), my Macbook, and on one occasion was able to access files, (that stopped when I switched off the Macbook overnight), but my Macbook cannot see either the laptop or the PC or the printer. I do have full internet access without problems.
Just an extra, I also have a Archos 5 that I use on the network. That cannot see the Macbook or vice-versa.
So, is there anybody out there who can resolve this problem, or do I have to face the fact I've paid a grand for a nice table decoration?

Update: A very helpful Apple tech guy was able to guide me in the right direction. This was the link he sent me:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1568?viewlocale=en_US
And it worked. Now my problem is to try to find the printer.

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