Presonus Firepod goes for around $500 now and comes with Cubase LE which is a pretty good program. I picked up a second Firepod bundles with SX3 for $700 on Ebay!!
If you're cheap like me, the summer issue of Computer Music magazine includes a dvd with the full version of Samplitude SE included. An 8-page tutorial is also included. I recommend you pick it up if you can still find it.