worthwhile external drive solution?

so i'm thinking about buying an x61. i want more hard drive space and an optical drive but won't have much more money after my notebook purchase (that means no $200 dock with a $200 optical drive and a $200 hard drive to fit in the dock for a combined total of $600!).

i was thinking about getting something like this to attach to a much cheaper internal harddrive and optical drive when i need to. I don't want to get external enclosures or to buy external versions of each because that would mean $40-$60 more for each. the problem is i don't know if i'm being too cheap. 95% of the time i wont' be using the hard drive, but would like the freedom to watch hd content off of it once i get even more adaptors. 99% of the time i won't be using the optical drive, but would like the freedom to burn a dvd. in addition i probably won't be carrying these around much or moving them much, so lots of protection probably isn't necessary. so am i being too cheap? are there any major disadvantages to this solution? also is there a better and/or cheaper solution? if this solution is fine, does anyone know of any better/cheaper adaptors?

 

anyone know?

 

Advantage:
1) compact size is great for technicians.

Disadvantage:
1) repeated plugging and unplugging of the adapter.
2) drive noise.
3) increase risk of handling damage.

For a little more, you can probably pick up both 3.5 and a 5.25 enclosure. There is quite a few review of these devices on NE.