Dome, regarding the interface, if you are in the US, I highly suggest buying it from Sweetwater. Ask to speak to a PC recording specialist when you call. They normally will not steer you wrong and their return policy is nearly bulletproof for the customer.

The local salesperson may or may not know what they are talking about. Ask for very specific details when they tell you something like that.

Which Saffire model was it - a firewire model or a USB model? Not too many PC laptops these days come spec'ed with firewire ports.