I use my laptop too as a phrase sampler and midifile player. I had a problem of connecting my keyboard to it because it doesn't have a pc-to-host connector. I thought of getting pcmcia midi connector but its a little pricey. I remember that I have a little sound module about the same size as my laptop gathering dust in my garage. This module solved my problem because it has pc-to-host connection to hook up with my laptop's serial port. Then from there I can route the midi out (5-pin DIN) of the module and connect my keyboard's midi in. This module (Korg AG10) sounds better than my laptop's sound chip when playing midifiles. I don't know if you can still find this module but I bought it cheap when it first came out.