Pros: inexpensive

Cons: Won't work with Linux. Tried to use this card with Ubuntu 9.10 Server for a Hot Swap Backup drive solution. I could only get one drive to detect after boot some of the times and other times the system wouldn't boot at all. So, removed the card and plugged driectly into the Mainboard (Intel Based) and everything worked just fine. Yes, I tried dev/sdbX method in fstab and also the UUID. Being plugged into the Mainboard, the UUID method in fstab works with a simple mount -a at terminal. I also hoped that the usbmount package in synaptic would help but it seem to make a difference.

Other Thoughts: newegg, please change the compatibility on your specifications tab. The Startech site does not mention being compatible with Linux.
I'm using this Linux Server for file storage and time machine backup solution for a 5 Mac Network.

Pros: Seems to work okay once the drivers are installed. Cheap!

Cons: What the previous reviewer said: the installer didn't install the (correct?) driver. The manual was useless, as was the manufacturer's web site after skimming a few minutes. (I didn't try support though; I figured I could figure it out on my own before I heard back from them, especially Easter weekend.)

I had to go to the device manager and select the driver myself, manually. I would have found it eventually, but the previous reviewer saved me 5-10 minutes of fishing!

For XP64 users, the correct path is:

PCIESATA21/VRAIDDrv/XP/x64

Other Thoughts: I need this to connect a SATA DVD burner and an eSATA hard drive. The former works fine, but I've yet to build and attach the latter, so I don't know yet. Like I said, it seems to work well once the correct driver is installed. If it doesn't work well, I'll come back and update this review or do a new one, whichever Newegg will allow me to do.

Pros: It had the features I wanted, and my previous experience with Startech brand is good. It seems to work OK (see cons).

Cons: The software CD was labeled for "2 serial ATA controller with parallel ATA" and the directions were totally wrong. I went to the ST site and got the software there - it was the same stuff. The software is a Via RAID controller - overkill, considering there's only 1 ext. and 1 ESATA port.

I contacted tech support and got these directions for XP:

Thank you for your inquiry! I would recommend downloading the latest drivers/software directly from our website (http://www.startech.com/item-download/PCIESATA2I-1-Port-eSATA-1-Port-SATA-PCI-Controller-Adapter-Card.aspx). The path to the 32 bit XP driver (without software) is PCIESATA2I/VRAIDDrv/XP/x86.

However, when I went to Add/Remove software in XP to remove the Via software, I found one could just remove the RAID config program and keep the drivers, which I did.

Other Thoughts: I was going to drive my DVD burner with this card, and that worked, but I couldn't use the CD to install the software, 'cause the drive wouldn't work - DUH! So I used it for my data drive. Also not sure if this would drive a boot device, since it's not seen by my system until the software loads.