cheap ssd experiment possible with this?

Just wondering, does anyone know of cheap way to try out an ssd? also how to buy a new laptop that is "ssd ready"?

I'm just about to buy a new laptop so, if I want to use an ssd how would I make sure the new puter has that capability?

I see at least some new laptops have these expresscard slots 54/34 that an ssd card could be plugged into. But what is required for an ssd to be installed internally, just an open HD bay?

I can't afford to get an ssd with my new laptop, but would like to be able to install one down the road. Until then, I suppose I could buy an 8gm ssd for under $100 and try it out.

So, if I want my new laptop to be 'ssd ready' so to speak, what do I need to make sure it has? an empty standard HD bay? or must it have a special ssd bay? I'd rather the ssd drive be internal rather than plugged into a slot.

I was wondering if this would do for an external, plugin experiment:
LEXAR 8GB EXPRESSCARD SOLID STATE DRIVE (Retail)
Manufacturer: LEXAR
Part #: EX8GB431
Lowest Price: $98.94

Does anyone have any experience with something like this?

Has anyone tried loading Linux on such an ssd and booting from it? a distro the size of DSL would certainly fit.

I suppose the ssd would be your primary/boot drive and the old spinner, your backup?

Any ideas on an inexpensive way to prepare for an tryout this new technology?

Thanks, c

I just read that 4gb of an ssd drive can be used for vista's readyboost. I guess you could use the rest for backup or whatever.

has anyone used these under Linux for swap, system cache, or anything else? how did you do it, with what programs, etc.?

maybe the thing to do would be to max out system ram to 4gb and then use an ssd (internal or expresscard) for vista readyboost or Linux swap/cache?

so, max ram to 4gb, add a 4gb expresscard ssd for readyboost and the add an internal sdd as a boot/primary drive? Would that be the best way to optimize the memory/drive part of the system's performance? Not inexpensive, but most effective?

pss.
ok, I just got the idea to go to google video and type in "Solid State Disk" and found several videos on ssd. I see they can be installed like regular HDs and used as boot and/or primary drives, 4gb readyboost drives, as well as just a faster version, albeit smaller, of an ext. HD.

looks like these will be good additions to a computer as soon as they drop some more in price, which of course they always do, eventually.

if you've used SSDs, especially under Linux, I'd really like to know how you did it and what benefits you derived.

thanks, c

 

All SSD 2.5 inch drives use either a SATA or PATA interface so it'll work in a laptop .

 

great, thanks

I suspected that was the case, but you know how manuf. love to create incompatible proprietary interfaces, just so everyone has to buy from them.

when it comes to memory, am I correct in assuming that
system ram is fastest
then an ssd internal drive
then an ssd thru expresscard slot
then a usb drive
then some type of memory card?

Is that roughly how they fall out, speed/access time wise?

thanks, c