The 2nd generation iPod does not have USB support. You do need a firewire connection to sync it. I would stay away from USB to firewire. Since you have a laptop try a PCMCIA to Firewire something [http://www.google.com/products/catalog?hl=en&q=pcmcia+to+firewire+adapter&gs_upl=32038l35905l5l36542l15l14l2l0l0l2l1177l4497l1.5.5-1.2.1l10l0&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&biw=1024&bih=629&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=8105200738778327335&sa=X&ei=LK1KTvy1HOixsAKG59GzCA&ved=0CFAQ8wIwAA|like this.] Good Luck