Setup IP Printers and connect to remote server.
 

I am using Ubuntu 8.10 and will go to Ubuntu 9.04 when it comes out. How do I connect a IP printer. All I know is the brand of printer and it's IP address?

How do I also connect to a Image Cast server where my files are stored? In Windows I enter the IP address on Run and then it gives the log-in prompt. All I have is the IP address. How would I log into that shared IP folder?

In System/Administration/Printers you should be able to start a wizard for adding the printer (if it's not automagically detected).

To access your shared folder (I assume it's a Samba share) opening Nautilus and going to smb://YOUR-SHARE-IP

Creat a SMB folder shortcut
 

That did work for me. How do I make a SMB folder on the desktop?

You can create a launcher for Nautilus (right click/create launcher) and put "nautilus smb://YOUR-SHARE-IP" as command (without quotes).

Perhaps the name of menu entry is not exactly like that, I'm using the Italian translation of GNOME.