Seeking experience with eSATA External Disk with Notebook

Hi guys ( and gals ),

I am running low on disk space with my current notebook (60GB) and I am considering the option of buying an eSATA ExpressCard and pairing this with an external desktop hard drive ( mainly for more diskspace and potential faster disk access, compared to swapping out my 60GB notebook harddrive ).

I am planning to run the external drive as my day-to-day data drive which involves lots of raw photo editing, browsing, slide-shows and transfers with my camera. I don’t want to backup my current data on DVDs as I would like to show my clients my portfolio and express examples of my ideas on the fly. Playing with many DVDs on demand is just not an option.

I’ve ruled out those off the shelf USB/Firewire external disks as they seem to be for backup only and probably won’t last in a continuous 10hrs per day operations. Note that I know my portability will suffer but I've found myself using my notebook more as a portable desktop than ever before ( more likely to setup my full operation at clients' site rather than taking all the things with me at all time ).

After seaching the net, I am considering these three items ...

SIIG eSATA II Express Card
( http://www.siig.com/product.asp?catid=10&pid=1099 )

Cooler Master X-Craft eSATAII Case
( http://www.coolermaster.com/index.php?LT=english&Language_s=2&url_place=product_list&p_class=653)

Western Digital 500GB 7200rpm 24/7 Disk
( http://www.westerndigital.com/en/products/products.asp?driveid=238 )

Is there anybody who can offer me advice on the above setup/equipments or point me to a better direction ??

I've also noticed that almost all eSATA ExpressCard manufacturers have really bad website. It is nearly impossible to find any support (eg. download of new drivers ) for their products. I am currently running WinXP, but would also like the option of upgrading to Vista. Only two of the manufactures that I've found offers current support for Vista drivers. Do you think that will be an issue or will the drivers most likely be incorporated into Vista itself ?? From the looks of these website, I can't help but think that the after market support for these manufactures will be so poor that it is not likely of them to provide new drivers. When the popularity of Vista surpasses WinXP, they are more likely to offer a new version of the hardware and force us to upgrade.

Thanks

Ted

 

I use an expresscard eSATA adapter with a Vantec eSATA enclosure. It works great. Vista was fine for me. I actually booted my Vista (experiment) installation from it.

It looks like you have all the bases covered. Good luck and have fun.

 

Thanks RogueMonk,

May I ask what brand is your express card ??

Ted

 

does e sata power the drive?

If not would it power a 2.5 inch e sata drive?

 

Don't think there is power with the eSATA plug.
My understanding is that it is just the desktop SATA plug made external, that is why all the external cases require separate power.

Check this one out ...

http://www.cooldrives.com/usbesal2hadr.html

It doesn't have a separate power pack but maybe it is using USB as a power source but driving the notebook HD with eSATA

 

well the cool max version of that same spec goes for as low as $25

so.... to use an external drive e sata you have to hook up a e sata cable
AND a usb cable to your laptop?