@Mr Steven Owen,

Ok, think about this just a little here. The SATA driver is using a SATA interface then is being converted to a USB interface.

So if anything, the USB 3.0 solution may have higher latency issues becuase it has to go through SATA - USB anyway?

@Mr Mean, @Jon, @Lefizz

eSata has overheads, along with the kit that's used - all of which creates a latency on throughput and you won't really see true Sata speeds, just as if you've connected the drive internally.

As a USB 3.0 user and an eSata user I get better speeds from SuperSpeed than eSata, time and time again.

USB 3.0 looks like those latencies could be reduced.

"It doesn't matter how fast USB3 has the ability to be. The fact of the matter is the drives use a SATA II connection (the internal and same speed as eSATA). So in other words it can't out perform eSATA. At best it can only tie it."

I'm appalled that the author didn't realize this.

It doesn't matter how fast USB3 has the ability to be. The fact of the matter is the drives use a SATA II connection (the internal and same speed as eSATA). So in other words it can't out perform eSATA. At best it can only tie it. So if the Buffalo unit is sealed, this means it is not upgradeable!! So you have a connection technology that is roughly 40% faster than the current industry leader (for common PC equipment. This obviously doesn't hold true to connection types such as fibre and other enterprise class connectors) which you are paying a premium for, and will NEVER be able to use because it is a SEALED UNIT!! I'm thinking someone hired in Paris Hilton's PR manager to head the Marketing for Buffalo Technology!!!!

So usb 3 allows drives to go faster than their native SATA interfaces does it? Seriously think about what you have written. Poorly though out.
You compare this drive in a USB 3 enclosure to an unamed E-sata drive you tested in the past. Hmm that sounds really scientifc. Why not find out which drive was inside, usually very easy in software, then test the SAME drive connected via E-sata.
Then you would comparing the SAME drive across two interfaces.

Whatever, a usb interface chip CANNOT make a hardrive faster