Newer laptops are even less likely to work, and they won't have a parallel port.
You can use an ethernet or USB motion controller with Mach3, which will work fine with a laptop.
I would not buy Mach3 today, as I consider it obsolete.
I'd go with UCCNC, which is very similar, and superior in many ways. You'll need a UC100 or UC400ETH motion controller.