Lacie "Porsche" 250gb IEE1394 (firewire) drive, with power supply and one data cable (to either 4-pin or 6-pin).
Virtually brand new - used twice. US$250.
Not all computers have a firewire connection, but if you have it this is the fastest mode of data transfer.
Don't make the mistake of thinking back-ups don't matter. Hard disks in laptops are prone to total failure without warning after 12-18 months. Back up frequently, especially stored emails.