Is the Emagic EMI 2/6 the only good USB interface?

[riotshield]

I want to be able to record outside my bedroom (bad sound + noisy because of computer fans/AC unit). I bought a laptop this week on sale at Best Buy mainly for taking class notes (Compaq Presario 906US), but it looks like I could use it instead of my desktop for recording. The only problem (other than a slow 4200RPM hard drive) is that it has only a USB and PC Card interface, no USB 2.0 or Firewire. I heard good reviews about the EMI but it's $400, and I can only go $250-300, tops (that's after selling off my Audiophile 2496 and one of my geetars). I'm flat broke otherwise. MF has some in this price range, I was wondering if they were any good.

If possible I would like the following specs:
-24-bit, 44.1kHz OK
-2 analog inputs
-coaxial S/PDIF in
-MIDI in/out
-low latency, stable drivers, etc.

Thanks!