I have been an IDE(Pata) man because my PC's lack Sata connectors.
My recent experience with faltering/failing PC's has made me become obsessive regarding imaging the drives.
I use Seagate's free DiscWizard, and it does a great job (with a few precautionary steps).
I am imaging to other IDE drives, and to an external USB2(IDE aka PATA) drive.
The latter is about three times slower than the IDE to IDE drive imaging.
Two things have made me consider using a SATA drive -
- Just about impossible to buy large IDE drive.
- I just ordered this Sata Docking Station for $40 AU -
http://www.catchoftheday.com.au/smallfish_info.php?products_id=3282

My questions are -
1) Will the Station's usb2 connector to my PC, be as slow as the External USB2 (IDE) drive was ?
2) The Docking station has a cable for eSata. If I purchase a PCI card to provide an eSata connector, and purchase a SataII drive will I get the much faster speeds. Or will my 2004 PC's have some limitations causing them to be pretty slow ?

Rob