Get a USB-version of a 5.1 sound card,
Or perhaps try a PCMCIA version
Looks a bit less bulky and more compact when you consider that it slots into the laptop rather than sitting next to it.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/12...e_audigy_2_zs/
Unfortunately this wont work in a new Expresscard slot.
And why do I need 3 jacks when I only have one headphone and one mic socket?
As you've discovered above, the 3 jacks allow the individual speakers to be controlled independently, mainly for positional audio in the likes of games and movies where you can hear objects/character going "around" you. Most music is only 2-channels anyway, but still sounds quite good "upmixed" to the full 5.1