I own a Sager 8890 laptop - you can see more about it at www.pctorque.com or www.sagernotebooks.com.

But my question is, will the Soundgraph iMON Plus remote and its accompanying software work with my laptop's built in IrDA port so that I don't have to use the huge receiver that comes standard with the remote?

I don't want to have to drag around the receiver if I don't have to. It's just one more piece of equipment that I'd have to carry around and mess with and I'd rather do away with it altogether.

Does anyone have any experience with this remote, its software, and integrated IrDA ports?

I don't have any experience, but if the manual does not say it will work, there are extremely good chances it will not. IRDA used by the IR ports on a PC are made to work with extremely short bursts (this helps with transmitting data fast at short distances). The IR emitters used by normal remotes are build to send brighter but slower bursts (since distance is paramount). Most of the remotes cannot do IRDA because devices built to receive IRDA tend to get blinded if the light is too strong.