Laptop HD to a SerialATA computer

You will need a SATA to IDE adapter.
Here's just one I found (find more using Google)

https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/21858515/Unable-to-open-your-default-email-folders.html

On top of that you will need a laptop to ide adapter.

http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?product_code=294956&pfp=SEARCH

It sounds kind of convoluted.  I haven't seen a laptop to sata adapter yet, but assume they are or will be out there.

yeah the laptop drive to serial in one adapter would be a better bet.

Ok, here's an interesting alternative.  It's an 2.5 and 3.5 adapter to usb:

http://tekgems.com/Products/kl-usb-sata-ide-25-35.htm

Seems like that would do what you want.

That is to connect a SATA drive to USB via MAC drivers.  What I need is one device to convert straight from mini-IDE on a laptop hard drive to a SATA port.

It says it will work on either PC or Mac.  But I agree that if you want a single adapter of 2.5 inch laptop ide drive to sata, I haven't seen it on the market yet.  (of course there's probably laptop sata drives coming up soon too....)

The simple answer is NO.  Serial ATA is a totally different communication protocol than IDE.  YOu will not be ale to do this as far as I know.

First of all, you do NOT need a SATA-to-IDE adapter as Expert4XP said (although his link is not to any such adapters -- it's to an old EE question on opening e-mail folders).

... what you need is an IDE-to-SATA adapter;  commonly known as a Bridge Board.   You can get an IDE-to-SATA Bridge Board here:  http://www.granitedigital.com/catalog/pg52_satabridgeboards.htm  (Note they also sell SATA-to-IDE board;  you want Item #1085)

You will then also need (as noted above) a 2.5" to 3.5" IDE adapter -- but you could plug this into the Bridge Board on a semi-permanent basic if you were only using the Bridge Board for laptop drives.   Here's a very inexpensive adapter:  http://cgi.ebay.com/2-5-Laptop-to-3-5-Desktop-Hard-Drive-IDE-Adaptor-AIAB_W0QQitemZ9729105637QQcategoryZ41994QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

A couple of other comments:

==>  As I think you know from your comments, a direct IDE connection is MUCH more reliable for recovering data, etc. than using an IDE-USB convertor.

==>  Someone said "... probably laptop sata drives coming up soon ..." ==>  WRONG!!   They've BEEN here for some time.   Many newer laptops already use SATA drives.

If the drive does not have to be internal, but simply available for use, you could also try an external USB enclosure for 2.5" drives.   NewEgg.com carries 52 different models.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.asp?Submit=ENE&N=2010090092+1053807124+1054107130+1054207132&Subcategory=92&description=&srchInDesc=&minPrice=&maxPrice=

My previous comment >> there's probably laptop sata drives coming up soon too.

garycase, you're right, they're here already; here's one example:
http://www.directron.com/0a25015.html

Expert4XP ==> As I noted, I'm well aware that SATA drives are already being used in laptops.
HOWEVER ... your link is (again) WRONG.   That is NOT a SATA drive !!!

Not really any need for a link to such a drive anyway, but since you posted a bad one, here's a good link to a whole page of SATA notebook drives:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.asp?Submit=ENE&N=2010150380+1035907918&Subcategory=380&description=&srchInDesc=&minPrice=&maxPrice=

garycase, my apologies.
http://www.directron.com/0a26923.html

... When you're going to post a link it's not difficult to (a) open a new browser window; (b) paste your link in the address bar; and (c) CHECK IT !!   (I ALWAYS do this before posting a link)

In both cases I had the url link open in another window.  I thought I had issued the ctrl-c to copy it, but obviously it was the EE link and not the link to the adapter.  

In the second case, the link I posted was what I intended.  But this comment at http://www.directron.com/0a25015.html mis-lead me.  "Parallel and Serial ATA interfaces on all models."  

Thanks Expert4XP, I think that may be as close as I can get.  Now for a better looking min-ide to ide?

Thanks tedpenner.  Most all of the laptop/ide adapters appear to be meant for a temporary installation.  A few of the links showed a mounting plate for the laptop adaptor.  Maybe that was what you were looking for.

http://search.ebay.com/ide-laptop-adapter_W0QQfclZ4QQfnuZ1QQfsopZ1QQxpufuZx

Here's the whole search:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=laptop+ide+adapter