If you're getting an express card, you should make sure it's got Texas Instruments firewire:
http://www.startech.com/item/EC13942...wire-Card.aspx
Is supposed to be the best for audio, whereas Ricoh (Dell laptops) and Agere (some Macs) are not highly rated.
As for Windows 7, if you know anyone who's a student, then you can blag it for £30:
http://www.microsoft.com/uk/education/studentoffer/
A mate in work already did this, using one of the placement students mail adresses, and it was fine. MS send the download link and licence key to that student mail address (.ac.uk) but then obviously, once downloaded, there's nothing to stop you installing it, as nobody checks from then on if you really are a student or not. Am gonna do it myself in a couple of weeks B-)