Request for suggestions on digitizing cassettes

[Homer J. Simpson]

Hi *

I'm working on digitizing some music to make some CD's.

I have cassette copies of original cassettes. My playback
device is a Yamaha KX-R700U deck and I'm rather happy about
its performance.

However, I have been using the built-in soundcard on a
very old laptop (no line noise!), and I'm no longer happy
with that.

In addition, the sound card in my main computer is a
SoundBlaster PnP 16 Vibra built into the motherboard, and
is far too noisy to use.

I want to do a good job of digitizing this audio, and as I
see it I have three options:

1 - Hire a shop to digitize from tape to CD and capture
that way, staying entirely digital once I have the CD.
What should I ask any shop doing this kind of work?

2 - Buy a decent sound card. The problem I see is that no
one seems to publish specs on analog input on sound cards.
I would need the group's opinions on a few models to
consider.

3 - Buy an external or stand-alone ADC and a card with
digital inputs. (Does anyone make an ADC with Ethernet? :)

Any and all help greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Chris (post a reply, e-mail at above address or
to whizkid at dwave dot notspambut net instead)