Connecting Linux desktop users to a Windows file server?

I need to figure out how our brand spankin' new Linux desktop systems can
connect to our Windows file server. I can smbmount the shares as root,
but I need the users to be able to have all the same permissions they'd
have if they were connecting from a Windows desktop. Right now all the
remote files end up being owned by root (obviously). Any suggesions? Or
pointers to a good How-To?
Thanks,
~M