I'm looking for something for my thinkpad. I HATE creative so that doesn't leave me with many options. This will be for toslink in and posslibly xlr in as well and stereo out to a headphone amp and sennheisier 555's.
All I've found that's worth a crap is the m-audio stuff... any other ideas

Only external box on a laptop I've used is a Motu Ultralite... but they are about $700, so pricey but awesome

You're right about the M-Audio, they're in a league of their own once you take Creative out the picture. I got a USB fasttrack manufactured by them and it's amazing, it can fit in your pocket, has XLR and audio jack in, with 2.5mm outputs (this can easily be converted with an adapter if your headphoens have the larger jack, I don't know the model you gave.

I've no qualms with the soundcard and it cost me £70 ($140 which I think is a bargain considering how it just works using plug and play under every OS I've tried, lots of older Linux distros, aswell as XP, Vista and Win2K).

I'd recommend it to anyone, you can get them at places like guitar shops and specialist shops.