I've tried quite many small and not-so-expensive usb cards for portable use. This is my solution and I'm very happy with it: Cakewalk (Edirol) UA-25EX. It has MIDI in/out, double stereo outputs (very good when you need to monitor yourself) + headphone outputs, 2xmic/line inputs, even digital in/out, many drivers for different platforms. Many very nice features in very small package. Made in China but absolutely no complaints about the quality.

http://www.emu.com/products/category.asp?category=610

I can't remember who it is, but they may show up and help.

Monitors are more difficult.  I'm using powered near field monitors, but these things aren't cheap.

They must be powered because a laptop doesn't have the power to drive non-powered speakers of any decent size and quality.

I have these:

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/MSP5stu/

But there are several other brands that are as good or better.

Do a search for near field monitors.

Some good places to start:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Studio_monitor

http://www.homerecordingconnection.com/...amp;id=431

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/jun02/a...nitors.asp

http://www.eqmag.com/article/listen-up-...2009/92287

Glenn