What audio interface to chose among this multitude?

[Bad Disciple]

Hail everyone,

I need to make choice for a good audio interface for my small home studio.
I record ac./el./class. guitars, bass, keyboards, drum machines, microphones.
I gave my previous PC away and soon I’ll build my next more-power desktop.
So meanwhile I must use my laptop: Intel Core 2 Duo, 2.0GHz, 4MB L2 cache,
2GB DDR2, with ONE Firewire port, 2HDs (the one external on USB2) and Cubase SX3.

For 3 days I’ve searched in all today’s main brands.
First, I’ve put the brands in order by importance/quality in SOUNDCARD making,
high-end to lower: (please, re-position if you see it otherwise).
1.Mackie,
2.MOTU,
3.EchoAudio,
4.Digidesign,
5.TC Electronic,
6.Tascam,
7.M-Audio,
8.Focusrite,
9.E-MU (doing PCI only),
10.Lexicon,
11.Edirol

I’ve made some pre-choices for the models below. Still I need help. Any opinion/advise
would be useful.
Mackie Onyx 400F or Onyx Satellite(?);
Motu UltraLite-mk3 or Traveler;
EchoAudio AudioFire8;
Digidesign Mbox 2 Pro;
TC Electronic Konnekt 24D;
M-Audio FireWire 1814;
Tascam FW-1804(?).

I also have these questions:
1.I plan to buy (in some near future) a TL Audio pre-amp, maybe the 5001 Ivory.
In that view, do I really need to get a soundcard with high quality input pre-amps now?
2.In view that most soundcards have balanced inputs, or Hi-Z, do I need to buy
DI boxes in addition?
3.Is my USB2 port for the external HD fast enough to use it for my record work?

Great thanks in advance for the feedback.
Bad Disciple
EN EIDA OTI OUDEN EIDA
"One thing I know is that nothing I know." (Socrates)

 

[dgatwood]

Rule out the Mackie, along with everything by TC and a few products by Focusrite. The 400F uses the DICE II chipset, which while interesting from a sound perspective, has terrible drivers that are known for compatibility problems with a significant percentage of computers.