Having trouble with SPDIF cords

[Shpoop]

I tried searching, sorry if this has been covered.

I got a brand new laptop, and as usual, the audio output is one 3.5mm minijack. Howevere this 3.5mm jack is labeled SPDIF, so I am under the impression that I can connect it to, say, a receiver, and get surround sound. How would I go about connecting this 3.5mm jack to the digital coaxial jack on most receivers?

The only idea I have right now is this: http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/pshow...number=090-288
and then obviously using a standard coaxial? Would that work? I know a coaxial would fit, but since it is labeled RCA, would there be different resistances or something that would not allow it to work?

Also one last thing. I can plug analog imput jacks into this (my headphones, my old speakers), and they work, and I know neither of them have a way of converting digital to analog...what's up with this? Is it just set on analog instead of digital from within the computer?

Thanks for any help

[moamps]

This is an optical spdif/analog output.

http://shop.store.yahoo.com/cellpoint/sopooptotomi.html

[Shpoop]

Thanks for that, it's probably the closest I've seen so far. But from the description, it appears to be a chord to go from something like a MiniDisc into a computer to rip mp3s to the computer...there is nothing on that page that leads me to beleive the minijack side is actually a digital jack instead of just a normal stereo connection.

[kevinkr]

It may be a combined stereo analog output and optical spdif - this is commonly done with computer audio cards and external usb codecs. My m-audio transit has this feature. Plug in a standard 3.5mm stereo plug and it is analog, get the 3.5mm optical cable and plug that in and it's spdif. Your laptop manual should explain.

Kevin