Is eSATA really not that common?

[sheh]

I was looking at a few notebooks and it's disappointing to see eSATA isn't the norm. Is that really the way things are or did I just browse a bad selection?

 

[rsutoratosu]

i think its a hassle because you need external power... on a few of my laptops I have eSATAp, made things a little more better but still hassle on drives that need more power.

 

[mpo]

Some Dell Latitudes have USB/eSATA ports.

 

[MarkLuvsCS]

I never saw eSATA in the bulk of external drives from the various vendors. The idea of the speed behind eSATA was nice, but with the majority of vendors just using USB2/3, it's unlikely to change because USB is so common and compatible.

 

[gorobei]

no one bothered jumping on the esata bandwagon since usb3 was coming and would get close enough in speed that there would be no difference.

 

[corkyg]

My Lenovo Thinkpads, T60 and T510 both have it. They don't have USB 3 and never will - would have to buy a new machine. Not worth it.

 

[OS]

my dell vostro and latitude has esata, and it's combined with a USB port, smart design.

 

[sheh]

Oh, I know that some notebooks come with it, but the impression I'm getting is that most don't.

It's true that USB3 can reach similar speeds, but eSATA predates it. I also like the fact it's a direct extension of the internal SATA protocol and transparent to the rest of the system.

 

[corkyg]

Bad to use the term "most" unless you have quantitative data. A better word would be some or many.

 

[rabbitz]

Hmm... my dell inspiron and dell xps had esata ports... as well as my thinkpad t520. Too bad I don't have any peripherals with esata xD

 

[PingSpike]

Oh, I know that some notebooks come with it, but the impression I'm getting is that most don't.

It's true that USB3 can reach similar speeds, but eSATA predates it. I also like the fact it's a direct extension of the internal SATA protocol and transparent to the rest of the system.

Not to mention you can easily install windows onto an eSATA disk. I also noticed there was a dearth of eSATA ports on laptops which is pretty sad since it is really just a simple adapter of the existing SATA wiring. I think its a pretty lame effort by laptop makers and has really hurt the adaptability of the machines.

 

[corkyg]

FYI - a USB3 Express Card can be added to most any current laptop that does not have a eSATA port.

http://www.google.com/products/cata...=X&ei=msuWT83-Huj62AX9muDoDQ&ved=0CHYQ8wIwAQ#

 

[Golgatha]

FYI - a USB3 Express Card can be added to most any current laptop that does not have a eSATA port.

http://www.google.com/products/cata...=X&ei=msuWT83-Huj62AX9muDoDQ&ved=0CHYQ8wIwAQ#

Yes, and so can eSATA.

http://www.google.com/products/cata...=X&ei=ZNqWT8rDK5Go8QTE1P27Dg&ved=0CJwBEPMCMAA

 

[PingSpike]

How common is express card?

 

[sheh]

it is really just a simple adapter of the existing SATA wiring.

I think there are slightly more lenient electrical tolerances, too.

Bad to use the term "most" unless you have quantitative data. A better word would be some or many.

Most of the things I say are pretty accurate. I mean, many of them. At least some. (Hey, I said "the impression I'm getting".)