[CS-FSLUG] Linux laptop, ExpressCard eSATA

[Micah Yoder]

I asked here about the Ultimate Linux Laptop, so, an update ...

I need to order it soon, and I've decided to get something from powernotebooks.

Amongst their 17" selection:
http://powernotebooks.com/category.php?catId=25

I'm now trying to decide between the PowerPro I 12:5, which I had been
planning on getting, and the A 2:38 which is brand new, based on the
newest ASUS laptop.

I'm waiting for the Powernotebooks guy to answer a couple questions on
the A 2:38.  It looks like a winner to me.

I've also been trying to figure out if Linux would work with the
ExpressCard eSATA devices.  I *think* they should work, but it's a bit
of a gamble because extensive googling has not come up with anything
really positive.  (The only guy I found who tried it at all had other
problems with Linux on his computer.)  Apparently I'm too much on the
cutting edge, but it seems that people should be clamoring for this.
Think about it -- external storage that is as fast and as large as
desktop drives, and hopefully I could install bootable Linux
partitions on it too.

I'm not really interested in firewire drives, because I need the
firewire port for video capture.  I also doubt that GRUB could boot a
partition from a firewire device, while it should be able to from
eSATA.

Anyone tried anything like this?

The PowerPro A 2:38 has a built in eSATA port.  Hopefully its chip is
compatible with Linux.  That's one of the answers I'm waiting to get.
There is an Addonics brand ExpressCard eSATA port with a chip that I'm
fairly certain is compatible.

God bless,
Micah