I've been looking into investing in a new laptop for various uses, and
when it comes to audio I've run into a problem.

My main computer has a 24-bit/96kHz card, and my preference would be
to use that resolution at all times. But the laptops invariably have
little better than CD-quality (16/44.1) audio onboard, and the only
peripheral solution I can find--Echo's IndigoIO--uses a PC card slot,
which some of the laptop models I'm looking at lack.

So, my question is this: Let's say I record some tracks with the PC,
at 24/96. They're now data files, so I put them on a CD or DVD and
access that disc with the laptop, and go about my business with my
editing software. Now, since it's the software dealing with the audio
file, and the laptop's sound gear isn't actually doing anything but
playback, will I be able to keep the 24/96 resolution? That is, after
I'm through editing and I save my final project, will it be in 24/96
or will it be converted to 16/44.1? Or will that whole scenario just
not work?

Thank you for any help you can give me, and I hope the question
actually made sense.


--
James Ward