Esata pcmcia express slot + raid for laptop ??

Ya.
Get 7.2k rpm hard drive of the largest size you can afford (fastest).
Get an external USB hard drive for backups. RAID is not a backup solution!

Good to go.

I might have found a solution.
There is 2 makers both has 2 hd's per enclosure boxes and sata out or esata , waiting on 1 for info http://www.american-media.com/prod [...] ds/ds.html
They have a ds3 model that can do sata but not sure what is going on on their website.
( ds-2316su2sbk )

Thecus = this looks like a winner for what I need = 2.87 lbs no hd's , 2hd bays + raid inbuilt controller for both raid 0 and 1 via a switch at the back + 1 esata out port , 2x usb as well + external psu cable same as laptop.
Price is about us$130 bit high but not a problem and if the express card is useless for doing raid but still functiones as normal 2 port sata , then this box already has the raid in = bonus or if both raids work = easy upgrade = buy 2nd thecus + 2 more hd's LOL.
Some express cards has had issues being raid / 2 port capable and so you might end up stuck with us$30 more expensive part and still has 2 esata ports on the card , same as cheaper express card esata adapter.

Looks like budget of us$30 -> us$65 for the esata express card with 2 ports raid or non raid card , us$130 + shipping for the Thecus and then either 2x us$80.00 + shipping for wd4000kd's or maybe something faster.
Total: us$380.00 or less inc. shipping

http://www.thecus.com/products_ove [...] id=1&pid=3
Pics:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822102002
Included free desktop pci type slot sata card 5* us$30 value not bad.

Now I just hope this works in both linux / xp pro sp2 and or has decent speed. Esata parts chip hunting for linux compat.

Edit:
PS> I might now be able to use Xp Pro and still run vmware / virtualbox and linux inside these virtual pc softwares + now have better performance rock on yeah.