To connect two PCs together you need a crossover cable, unless both PCs NIC support Auto-MDIX, in which case you can connect them using a standard Ethernet cable.

The Pi's NIC supports Auto-MDIX, you should check if your laptop NIC supports that feature, or simply connect them using a Ethernet cable, if the link does not come up then it means you will need a crossover cable.

The Pi's NIC supports Auto-MDIX, so you should be able to connect it to the laptop using a standard Ethernet cable.