Existing Windows network and a new MacPro?

I am currently running a home network as follows:
2 ea. Dell PCs running XP Pro, ethernet wire connected to a LinkSys cable modem/router, connected to Comcast for internet access. I also have an HP color laserjet 3500 printer hardwire connected to the LinkSys as part of the network. I have external hard drives on each PC connected to USB ports on the PCs but made available for accessing to either PC for storage and/or retrieval. I run MS Office 2003 on each PC and use Outlook for my email on each PC.
I am contemplating replacing the older PC with a new MacPro and have the following questions:
1. Will I simply remove the old PC from the network and connect (ethernet cable) the new MacPro to the LinkSys cable modem/router? Will I have internet access at this point oon my new MacPro or will I have to do something else (configure the MacPro or whatever) to gain this internet access?
2. Will the new MacPro see the networked HP printer and will I be able to print to that printer thru the network from my MacPro? Any special software needed on my MacPro to print to that printer?
3. I assume that it is possible to physically connect my current external hard drives to the new MacPro thru a USB connection, but will the MacPro see the files on these ext drives and can I access them?
4. I plan on installing MS Office on the MacPro. If I create a file (Word, Xcel or PowerPoint document) and email it to a non-believer (PC-user) will they be able to open and use the file, assuming they are running MS Office 2003 on their PC?
5. I understand that I can install up to four hard drives on the MacPro, all internal. Is there any advantage to using two internal hard drives to provide back up capability as opposed to using one internal hard drive and then buying a separate external MacPro compatible hard drive for my backup? That is - should I go with two internal hard drives or one internal and one external - thinking that if something bad powerwise should happen to the MacPro maybe the ext hard drive would have been spared. (I do have surge protectors on all of my equipment.) I assume that I would NOT be able to access files from the Mac ext hard drive from my other PC. Is that a good assumption?
6. I understand that I can download BootCamp and run Windows programs on my MacPro. Can I run BootCamp and MacOS concurrently? Can I run BootCamp and MS Office for Windows on my MacPro, prepare a PowerPoint presentation, store it on my MacPro hard drive, then run Mac OS X, PowerPoint (MS Office for the Mac) and open the recently created PowerPoint file that I had created under BootCamp, MS Office for Windows? Can I go back and forth between the two operating systems creating files, opening and storing them? Or is this all a moot point in that any MS Office for Mac file creeated on the MacPro will be fully compatible with any PC system should I email them the file and I don't even have to worry about BootCamp?
7. I understand that Apple will release their new operating system, Leopard, next spring 2007. Should I wait to buy a MacPro until that new OS is on the market? If I did buy the MacPro now, is it a big deal to upgrade the MacPro to new OS?
Thanx in advance for any advice you can give me.
Harry
PC   Windows XP Pro  

1. Should work as soon as you plug in the network cable.
2 Just install the drivers and setup the printer
3. Yes. Macs can connect to Windows file shares.
4. Yes. Office files are Office files, no matter the platform.
5. "I assume that I would NOT be able to access files from the Mac ext hard drive from my other PC."
Use SharePoints fro hornware.com to share the drives to your PC.
"That is - should I go with two internal hard drives or one internal and one external"
How you want to configure your backup scheme is up to you, as your computing needs are different than ours. Internal drives are cheaper, while external drives are portable.
6. "Can I run BootCamp and MacOS concurrently? "
No. If you want to run Windows and OS X at the same time, use Parallels.
"Or is this all a moot point in that any MS Office for Mac file creeated on the MacPro will be fully compatible with any PC system"
Yes.
7. "Should I wait to buy a MacPro until that new OS is on the market?"
Your call. We can't make that decision for you.
"is it a big deal to upgrade the MacPro to new OS?"
No.

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