Sound Card Supporting 5.1 Surround

I've been reading through a number of posts regarding sound card upgrades on this forum, but I haven't found any responses that are precisely tailored to my situation.

I just purchased an Inspiron 1505 (my first foray into the world of laptops). In the past, I had upgraded individual components on my desktop to handle new needs. When I purchased the computer, I noticed that there was no option for an upgraded sound card, so figured I would just pick up something made by Creative. With only an Expresscard slot, I have started to look at USB options.

Whereas most of the other posters are concerned about sound quality for gaming or professional purposes, I have much simpler needs. My main concern is getting my Logitech (not at home, so don't know the model) 5.1 surround speakers to work. I'm not an audiophile, I don't plan to use headphones frequently, nor do I need the capacity to record anything. Style is somewhat of a concern for me, in that I'd prefer not to get something made from white plastic that is going to look cheap and detract from the aesthetics of my desk.

That said, my configuration does not allow convenient placement of the back speakers, and a nice set of 2.1 speakers might match my needs more closely, with an improved sound card coming when Smartcard options are available.

Thanks in advance for the help.