External Hard Drives???, audio recording on a P.Book... Options

[jamester]

I have a new 17'' G4 P.Book, and am getting the 828mkII.

I have discovered my built-in hard drive is 4200rpm. Not so hot!
Is this going to be ok for recording, say, 4-6 trks of live audio? At least for a while?

I want to eventually get an external hard-drive. Two questions:
1) MOTU reports G4's with firewire800 (like mine) have problems with external firewire hard drives. What's the deal? and will a USB 2.0 be ok instead?

2) How exactly is this set up? Does the HD have to be firewire and run "in line" with the 828? Or can the hard drive be on a seperate port, and just "plugged in" to the 828 from the AudioDesk software?

Any help is greatly apreciated. Thank you!
JAMES