Unless I am horribly mistaken, I don't believe it matters at all what the computer hardware is, as long as it has a USB port that Linux recognizes. Then it's just is a question of the sound software finding, and knowing what to do with the various channels on the plugged in "card", so once such a "card" is known to work on a given debian release, it should work the same way on pretty much any other hardware with the same debian release, as long as the sound software is used. Please correct me if I am wrong!
I am having a hard time finding a way to get simple stereo line-in audio working on USB sound cards. Even if the hardware itself is not junk (which is all too often the case), I have yet to find a device that works in stretch. I am in the process of trying out
StarTech.com 7.1 USB Sound Card - External Sound Card for Laptop with SPDIF Digital Audio - Sound Card for PC - Silver (ICUSBAUDIO7D)
which is a really nice box, and while its headphone output works, I am unable to get anything actually coming in through the line-in jack, even though the channel is recognized by alsa.
EDIT: My bad!!! This device actually works beautifully out of the box. See explanation/conclusion in follow-up post below

A much cheaper box is
Optimal Shop USB 2.0 External Sound Card 6 Channel 5.1 Surround Adapter Audio S/PDIF for PC (Blue)
Then there is this much more expensive, but much less feature-filled item
USBGear USB 2.0 Audio Adapter Box with Line Input and Mic Input
All show some"evidence" of working with Linux, either from the seller's claims,or reviewer 's reported experience, but having now had to return too many online orders, I was hoping someone hear can tell me of any specific model they know works with their debian (I am still on stretch). That way, I should have a better chance of ordering something that won't need to be returned

TIA