I've never used a laptop and I am unfamiliar with it's connections
I have a Marshall amp which has a line out to the back of my PC, I put everything through the Marshall. I'm not sure how much an amp with a line out would be - My Marshall 65 watt was over 400 pounds five years ago, but you might be able to pick something up cheaper second hand.
Digital recording likes low volumes so you could get away with a smaller amp providing it has a line out

The software I use is Cakewalk Guitar Tracks version 2, and it is simplicity to use, it cost about 50 pounds.
To burn on to cd's I use Cakewalk pyro and it was a similar cost.
I' m not sure if a laptop has a Cd writer ?

Guitar Tracks comes with it's own drumloops on the disc.
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