Need simple advice on IDE HD

My current computer has a 40 gig HD and I've been at the point for a year now where I have to delete something to install something and it needs to stop. I'm looking for any suggestions/deals on a IDE HD and an external enclosure that will take IDE/SATA just in case I want to use it for mobile storage later. They can be 2 separate buys or combined. I don't need anything fancy, 300 Gig is plenty for this purpose. Honestly 150+ is probably more than enough but they seem so cheap anyways. Money doesn't really matter, under $150 would be great but I really care more about quality.

I have a suspicion I could close my eyes and randomly click on something on newegg and be ok for what I need, but I figured I'd ask here just in case.

You can usually save money by buying a HDD and an external case separately, then assembling. The assembly is easy - remove a few screws on the case, open, insert HDD as it fits, close and replace screws. Connect power supply to external, add the data cable, turn on and it works. You need to Partition and Format, just as you would any other new HDD.

In doing this, watch for these three things.
1. Data interface between computer and external case. Many cases come with a choice of two, such as eSATA plus USB2. Almost all have USB2 as one choice. Choose according to what connectors are available on your computer. If you have only USB2, that's your answer. But if you have eSATA or IEEE 1394a (aka Firewire 400) (or even 1394b), get a case with that capability - both are faster than USB2. Get the right data cable to connect case to computer. One option that usually works IF you have SATA internal connectors available but not eSATA, is that many cases come with a free adapter panel that mounts in a rear slot and lets you "convert" a SATA connection to an eSATA connector on the case back. This does NOT always provide full eSATA contoller functions (depends on your SATA controllers), but usually works for most things, and it's free.

2. Get a case with its own power brick. Some don't have, and pull power from the USB2 connectors. But they can use so much power some even use up two USB connectors to meet their needs. An On / Off switch on the case is handy.

3. Choose which interface type you want on the HDD (IDE or SATA - SATA is newer and will be around for a while), then make sure the case you buy takes an HDD with that interface.

For example, I have a mobo that includes both SATA controllers and a true eSATA controller with back-plate connector, as well as USB2. I bought an AZIO external case with eSATA and USB2 interfaces to computer, so I can use it with my machine via eSATA or anyone else's via USB2. It takes a SATA HDD, and I put a 500GB Seagate SATA II drive in it. I partitioned it to 300 BG (bootable) and (a little under) 200GB. I use the 300 GB part to duplicate my C: drive as a backup system, and the other to back up data from my D: drive. When the unit is on, the eSATA controller sees it as (two) other drive(s) in the system; when I turn it off, it disappears. My mobo allows me to set the eSATA unit as the boot drive, so I can run completely from it if my C: drive ever crashes.

I have the hard drive below and it works great. I am also using 3 of the enclosures in our office and they are working great also. I would stay away from the Coolmax enclosurethat is out there. I could not get mine to take a hard drive above 40GB even with the firmware update.

Check the link below for a very good hard drive.
http://shop3.outpost.com/product/4 [...] IN_RSLT_PG

Check this link for external enclosure.
http://www.directron.com/me350v3isabk.html