Talk about marketing having a genius plan. If this was something already happening, more websites will begin changing as time goes on. Additionally, with Jobs telling everyone "i-Pad" ready, users will think that their device is soooooo goooood that EVERYONE is conforming to it. Bravo, marketing team. I sure hope someone finds that thing useful. Because I must be getting old, since I just don't get it. I have a blackberry, a netbook, a large laptop, and a desktop.... What gap in my life is this supposed to fill? But apparently I will need one since I-Pad ready sites are already out there.... I sure hope my blackberry or computer can handle something like that.

Also, you could put the hard drive inside of an enclosure and use cable glands to run the usb in and out (or just glue it). Then you don't have to worry about the hard drive getting any sand or anything. Just make sure the enclosure is large enough that the drive doesn't overheat.