Hey don't go calling my camera a dinosaur!
(I use a Nikon D50 too)
It is ture that you can't control it from a laptop. You have a buy an Infrared remote control if you want to take exposures over 30 sec in duration. You can view images on your laptop if you connect it via a USB cable, but I have found it to be unreliable. You can buy the remote control on eBay, but don't bother with the rip off ones, get a genuine Nikon one.
If you already have a guide camera then you are almost there equipment wise. You just need to get a guide scope & rings (or side by side plate) etc.
This is what I use to control the mount from my laptop:
1. A cable. There is a special cable that has USB on one end and a serial type plug for the mount on the other end. I got mine
here. It replaces the hand controller.
2. EQMOD software (+ ASCOM drivers software)
3. Stellarium Software
4. Stellarium Scope Software.
5. Wireless joystick to control the mount. Eg Logitech Cordless RumblePad
6. Nikon driver software to allow you to view NEF format files. Deep Sky Stacker can read the Nikon raw NEF files.
plus PHD for guiding.
I recommend to set this up and test it inside the house on a cloudy night before heading outside...
Don't forget to set the camera to :
1. "Raw + Basic" mode
2. Something like 800 ISO.
3. "M" (manual) this allows it to work without a Nikon lens attached
4. "B" bulb mode to allow long exposures over 30 sec
5. Press the small button near the shutter 3 times
to activate the wireless detection thing.
Good luck and don't forget to show us your images!