ping/network

Ok, I know I am a little short on networking skills but:
The problem I have is a network of 1 linux puter, 1 XPpro, 1 win 98 and a
win98 laptop that is occasionally connected.
The IP is set on the redhat 9 puter at 192.168.x.x, the IP is set on the
XP puter at 192.168.x.x and the win98 puters use dhcp. (that is the way
windoze set them up. If I change them I lose internet). I can ping the
XP puter through both IP and name. I can ping the win98 puters through IP
address but not through name. I use Linneighborhood and it will brouse
the network part of the time but is not consistent.
Any answers?
TIA