As for your speed question.. I think this sums it well : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serial_ATA#eSATA_in_comparison_to_other_external_buses According to this, The SATA 1.5 and ATA133 drives are nearly the same.. But the USB 2.0 is well under it in speed. So I think its the USB Bus that will limit any transfers, until usb3.0 comes out that is.