What is the best way to add hard drives on Laptop for video editing?

[juzzie]

For all these years I've been using Desktop systems (not laptop) for all my computer needs, including video editing jobs. I've recently bought top of the line Dell M65 workstation core duo. I need your advice on how to setup external storage.

My Dell M65 workstation laptop has PCMCIA and ExpressCard slots. I also have D/Dock docking station with ability to put half-size PCI card in there. The internal hard drive is SATA 80Gb and obviously is too small for video editing jobs. I have two spare IDE hard drives 300Gb each that I would like to use with my laptop for video editing jobs (capturing, editing and authoring).

The simplest solution to add storage (another hard drive to capture footage) is to connect it thru external USB enclosure. But as you know, USB drives are not quite reliable with video capturing . So I'm thinking of another ways to add external hard drive to my system. So far I came up with 3 different solutions.

1. Buy PCMCIA SATA card and connect my IDE hardrive by putting it into SATA-IDE capable enclosure (the one that you can put IDE drive into and have SATA output to connect to SATA input of PCMCIA card).
2. Buy SATA ExpressCard and connect it the same way as #1 (thru IDE-SATA capable enclosure)
3. Buy Half-size SATA PCI card and put it into D/Dock docking station, then connect my IDE hard drive thru SATA-IDE capable enclosure

Now, I tell you what I heard (or learnt) about mentioned above hardrware.

1. I heard (I actually reasearched reviews) that PCMCIA cards are very likely to overheat causing problems to hard drive and crashing file system - no good...

2. I did not hear anything bad about Expresscards - so it might be the way to go.

3. I'm not sure if I can find "half-size" SATA PCI card to put into D/Dock station. But even if I could - would it be better choice compared to method 1 or 2?

Please give me your opinion as to the reliable setup (in terms of hard drives) I should use with my system. I'm pretty sure that some of you have laptop configured for video editing stuff. What is your recommended setup?

[edDV]

What are your capture requirements? Formats?

I looked at the link to learn about the M65
http://www.mobilewhack.com/reviews/dell_precision_m65_notebook.html
It says:
"Dell Precision M65 Specs:
*2nd 80GB hard drive (modular bay) (optional)"
That might do the capture job if it is SATA or PATA.

Next best solution would be the eSATA short card or PC Card (if heat safe).

If you are editing at the DV or HDV level, an IEEE-1394 or even USB2 enclosure would work during editing. They may not keep up during scrubbing on the timeline, but data will be safe. Worse case, you could transfer the files to be used to a faster drive.


eSATA PCI cards
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.asp?DEPA=0&type=&Description=eSATA+PCI&Submi...&Go.x=0&Go.y=0