[quote=]firewire like texas
For pc yes, for laptop you don't. Firewire in laptops will always work fine, cause they been made to work specially for that laptop.
Only for pc's there is a trial and error - I had to try 4 different firewire cards myself to find working one and it's not texas.
Anyway all external Interfaces will work just fine with your laptop, M-Audio, MOTU...
my friend from centrala.pro is using MOTU by firewire in his studio with normal pc and with his crappy old laptop when he's playing concerts (laptop, motu, Live and mpc40) - never complained, never had any issues during live act's.