Express Card -> E-Sata

[brammers]

Hi all,

I'm going to use my laptop as a mobile photo & video workstation in an upcoming ski-season, so I want e-sata rather than USB2.0 access to my external HDDs. I've found this adapter:

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/Lycom...-for-Notebooks

but I'd just like some confirmation before I leap. When using e-sata on the built-in ports on my desktop only 1 of the 3 plugs accepts the cable - the other 2 appear to be of a slightly different fit. Is this the case, and if so, will the adapter shown allow me to connect my external HDD?

Cheers all!

[Funkstar]

Proper eSATA has two little tabs either side of the conductors and does not have the 'L' shape of connector that regular SATA has.

What you'll find if you either have an external SATA cable and only one port like that, or an eSATA cable and only one true eSATA port. Functionally they are identical, people started making external ports before the official eSATA connector spec was released.

Have a look here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sata#eSATA

[brammers]

That makes perfect sense Funkstar. My desktop therefore features 2 internal but external SATA ports, and 1 E-Sata port, which is the one that I use. Am I therefore correct in thinking that the adaptor above will let me plug straight into my HDD? Should be...

[Funkstar]

You will need power for the drive, but data wise, it is a direct connection rather than through a converter chip.