can someone point me in a good direction to MIDI-fy my laptop?

well, get one of these http://www.m-audio.de/mspor22.htm with 2x midi-out/midi-in (neat new design!). plug it via usb to your lappy and install driver. now you can connect two midi-devices to it, supercool! or just get the midisport 1x1 for your drummachine...

i'm serious, buy a mac. audio-/midi-configuration in osX is as simple as lego...