The card you linked to is a great choice. My girlfriend is using one if you want to know the feedback for decent consumer recording capabilities.
You could also look at TerraTec, not sure if they have the stuff you need.
You guys circle-jerk too much.
A noob may be a noob as you call it, but more than likely someone can be more lazy than noob. That's what these multimedia sets offer, effortless setup (for the most part), and decent sound (for the size). I doubt the average consumer (hurr noob) wants to go...
This has been "attacked" quite a bit by a number of people, but that "digital output" refers to Creative's proprietary connection that's used by their speakers.
Theoretically, you could be a 1/8" adapter -> coax cable and run a digital stream down it, but I can't say since I've never tried it.
:rolleyes: What a truly informative post.
I like both cards, but I haven't seen a regular Audigy 1 on the shelves for quite sometime. Is it an original (wow) or an LS?
Technically, the TBSC has a better DAC than the Audigy, but I prefer the Audigy because of it's soft(bloat)ware, and...
I've tried the Alienware Mobile's and they are great, but quite heavy. Battery life isn't too long on those, but like you said that doesn't matter. Not quite up to par on desktop video cards, but it does the job, especially for a laptop.
The Dell XPS's are a bit bulkier, but pretty much...