External sound cards (for recording, music etc)

[Dogg Thang]

As some of you know from my recent laptop troubles, I have a Sony Vaio. I also now have a MicroKorg and I'm looking to get it all running through the laptop just for handiness. I have no doubt that the built-in sound equipment won't be good enough, and it certainly doesn't have enough connections.

But I have recently learned of the concept of external sound cards. Never heard of them before. Anyone know much about them? Any recommendations?

Do they work as a whole other sound card so could help with MIDI latency and so on? With a bunch of connections like audio in/out, MIDI in/out and so on?

[briareos_kerensky]

I do remember Extremetech reviewing an external Sound Blaster card, but the review turned out to be three years old, as did most of the hits I've got from Google...however, if my perception of sound cards for notebooks is correct, I doubt they will be good for amateurish/semi-pro/pro recording, both in quality and latency.
In fact, I even doubt that most mainstream PCI cards for desktops would be good.

[hudson]

I recently got myself a E-MU (Creative's Pro range) 0202USB external soundcard. I'm getting great latency results due to its USB2.0 connection. It has a stereo out which either go straight in my monitors or mixer (depending where I am in the house). It has an XLR mic input and a line input which I use to input a synth or guitar.

It's not the very best in terms of features i.e more ins/out/midi, but it does what I need well and it didn't break the bank.