Networqs,

The 2 audio connectors on the Inspiron 600M are the microphone and headphone jacks.

Thank you for choosing Dell.

Thank you DELL-JohnM .

Is the Mic input stereo or mono?

You bet I've looked at the User's Guide.  It doesn't say whether the mic input is mono or stereo, but I agree with you: it probably is mono.

Do you see where this is headed? 

I'd like to find out how to output stereo sound from my stereo to my computer.

Any ideas on how this can be done?

Networqs,

I believe it is mono.

You may also want to look over the User's Guide.


Click Here for Dell User's Guides.

Thank you!!!! I'll check out the ECHO Indigo IO card.

Two things will enable this with very high fidelity and with much higher quality than you would ever get with your laptop.  First, you need the right interface cable between the laptop and stereo.  Check out the following weblink.  http://www.dak.com/reviews/2045story.cfm.  Then you should consider the ECHO Indigo IO card.  It is a PCMCIA card that delivers 24bi 96KHZ with both a line in and line out stereo connection.  Check out their website and the various reviews posted including one from PC Magazine.  I have both and I use them constantly when at home listen to internet music streams and to record lp songs onto CD.

Be sure to look at the cable too!  You will only get completely clean sound if you use the cable, can't emphasize this enough.

Look at the M-Audio Transit USB as well. it supports 22-48K (simultaneous audio input and output), and > 48K-96KHz input or output only. Cheap too, only $80, I have have two purchased and use them for diff. laptops I have. Sound quality for me has been great. No problems either with 44KHz audio over USB 1.1.

mc

The ECHO Indigo seems a little pricey.  The M-Audio, too.  I think all I'm looking for is a simple "USB line-in" device, sort of like the USB headsets that have a built-in microphone.  Shouldn't be that expensice *IF* someone makes it.  If not, I'll just use a friend's desktop for my project (backing up a few old cassettes).  Thanks!