eSATA question

[WipeOut <wipe_out@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I see lots of new PC's with eSATA connectors but I can't seem to find 
much detail on it.. I know its an external SATA port and so has the 
speed of SATA but what I can't seem to find out, and maybe someone can 
help me here, is whether or not its hot plug like USB..

I am looking for an easy way to backup quite a lot of data regularly to 
an external hard drive.. If eSATA is hot pluggable then its will be 
great to have the speed to do the backups quickly.. If its not then I 
guess I am stuck with USB..