> if your laptop has a card slot, look for an eSATA card and use an eSATA
> hard drive for best performance.
Yes! It does have an Express Card slot, but wasn't sure exactly what it was for (until now...
). So, I guess my best bet is to get a dual eSATA card and one good external HD for now to see how it goes (can always add a second later, yes?).
You're also right about not really needing 24/96 capability for my current level of recording experience; but wanted to make sure I had something to grow into that would balance/maximize the performance capabilities at each level of my system: input hardware - interface - software - CPU/operating system.
Thanks for the info - I feel so much better now!