I think you can add an additional USB 2 card....assuming you have the slots available....or a firewire card. A laptop is always a pain. Generally they never have extra slots for anything. I have four desktops....three of which are mine and the other is one I use on my job. I've thought about a new computer. This one is almost three years old. I typically get a new one about every two years.....which is why I have three desktops :) Not much market for old machines any more.