AskTheLeaf wrote:
I talked to our engineers about this, and there won't be an eSATA module for the GoFlex Desk drive.
The reason behind it is that eSATA is an older and slower interface, compared to USB3.0.
Very bad engineering decision from Seagate and also based on a bad argument.
A hard disk inside an usb3 enclosure uses SATA to connect the enclosure and therefore can't be any faster than the SATA connection.
eSATA connection connects straight to the SATA connection, so it is as fast as SATA, therefore as fast as hdd and finally therefore as fast as usb3 connected to the same hdd.
eSATA allows user to monitor hdd's S.M.A.R.T data, which Seagate as hdd manufacturer should enforce.
By monitoring smart, the user can replace Your product, when it gets faulty, before they lose their data.
For not supporting eSATA Seagate will have more angry customers, who lose their data, when your hdd breaks down.
And let's face it: all hdd's breaks down someday. But maybe you just rather sell multiple hdd's as backup, for surprising breakdowns.
And if you'd like to be very smart, you could even use eSATAp.
Afterall (e)SATA(p) is the native way to speak to your hdd. There's no better or faster than the native way. All the others just need conversions, which add overhead, power consumption and slows your communication.
