Question about external SATA

[Junkboxy]

I want to get set up with some external storage for my laptop. I've heard a little bit about external SATA (eSATA?) and think that that is the way to go.

Has anybody done an external housing/internal HD set-up with this new SATA?
Got any suggestions for a PC Card adapter for this (e)SATA?

[funk]

I don't know why you would need (or want to pay for) speed and performance like that for an individual user. I run a usb2 external HD and it is plenty fast (and doesn't require a specialized port). Anyway, here is some good info on SATA (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SATA).

[PhoeniX27J]

idd as funk says...USB2.o or firewire is not fast enough 2 use a 7200RPM HDD 2 it's full speed...so y speed up the casing 4 a SATA HDD if the connection isn't fast enough...?

[Junkboxy]

I am considering the fact that my computer is slow...or at least its not fast. I don't want to burden a G4 with anything more than my apps. USB 2.0 and FireWire both require processor overhead, I thought. They get converted to go through the wire and then converted back.

SATA doesn't need no conversion. Am I mistaken or no? GearTripper actually suggested external enclosure with internal HDD a long time ago when I bemoaned my hard drive getting full. Said it was more bang for your buck. Since then, eSATA has come on to the scene. So I figured 'why not?'

A big consideration as a Mac laptop user is getting a PCMCIA adapter for eSATA that works out of the box. Mac-friendly. No BS. Gonna have to research that more..

[Junkboxy]

I'm looking at this thing, but its out of stock
http://img154.imageshack.us/img154/1561/gdriveqrear9ef.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://www.g-technology.com/Products/G-DRIVEQ.cfm

[D'Artagnan]

I don't nearly enough about these SATA things, I would just recommend an external HD, via USB or FireWire, or whatever.

I have a friend with a Mac G4 and OSX, and he has a external HD, and it runs fine.

[Mr.T]

I am considering the fact that my computer is slow...or at least its not fast. I don't want to burden a G4 with anything more than my apps. USB 2.0 and FireWire both require processor overhead, I thought. They get converted to go through the wire and then converted back.

SATA doesn't need no conversion. Am I mistaken or no? GearTripper actually suggested external enclosure with internal HDD a long time ago when I bemoaned my hard drive getting full. Said it was more bang for your buck. Since then, eSATA has come on to the scene. So I figured 'why not?'

A big consideration as a Mac laptop user is getting a PCMCIA adapter for eSATA that works out of the box. Mac-friendly. No BS. Gonna have to research that more..
in a nutshell, you are correct in evertyhing you've stated. if you have the opportunity to get an external SATA, go for it over the USB/Firewire option. some benefits of eSATA is 6 times faster than USB 2.0 and firewire. just make sure it's true SATA all the way through rather from just the enclosure to the pc and not the enclosure to the HD.

[Mr.T]

check this out...

http://www.sata-io.org/docs/External%20SATA%20WP%2011-09.pdf