mmegaera | tea, redux and netbook as sound recording device?

Thanks to those who suggested that I steep the tea for a minute, then pour out the water, start with fresh, and steep it again. It worked. I got to drink my tea last night and sleep, too [g].

Now I have another question. I would like to be able to use my netbook as a sound recording device. I know it has a microphone for use with Skype and the like, but it seems to me that I ought to be able to record sound (voices, for interviews), too. It's an XP machine. Would the software already be on it, or would I have to download something?

Help?