The A4988 is a similar chip in that you provide it with step and direction inputs. However, it is a lot more more capable that than the MC3479. The MC3479 wouldn't have been suitable for your motors anyway, because it is only rated at 350mA per coil.
The A4988 is a surface mount chip, however you can buy inexpensive A4988 boards via eBay, e.g. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/A4988-StepStick-3D-Printer-Stepper-Driver-Reprap-Prusa-Sanguinololu-RAMPS-/281121600079?pt=UK_Computing_Other_Computing_Networking&hash=item417427324f.