Recording with a laptop

[Helgaiden]

I recently dug up an old 500mhz machine (with 6gigs of free space now) to use as a small scale recording station (probably need a bigger hard drive now). This machine works fine for recording through line in, it was pretty cool. The problem now is that i dont have a monitor for that computer anymore and cant really do anything with it (i want to hook it up to a TV but thats a problem of its own im trying to figure out right now). First question, using the laptop listed in my sig, can i record through it as if it had line in using the microphone port? (it only has line out and mic). Second question, if i cant record using my laptop, using a monitor extension cable can i plug the 500mhz machine into my laptop and use my laptop's LCD as the display? (not even sure that would work). My laptop has a bunch of USB ports and my friend has a USB plug in thing that acts like another soundcard (has line out, mic, and line in ports on it), where can i get one and whats the cheapest i can get it?



Last question...
do any of you know any free drum machine/synthesizers that sound good? (not like "omg that song's drums is all synth!")

thanks for any help.

[9mmCensor]

The video plug on laptops is out. Not in.

You can plug other monitors in, but you cant plug other computers in.

[Helgaiden]

Thats what i thought. Thanks.