The follow up of the current ATA/IDE interface is bound to come. Intel announced that it has formed a who's charge is to develop a Serial ATA II specification that will enhance the existing Serial ATA specifications:
Serial ATA is an evolutionary replacement of the parallel ATA physical storage interface in the desktop as well as the cost-sensitive server and network storage market segments. The spec allows for thinner, more flexible cables and lower pin counts. This will allow computer manufacturers to design systems with cables that are simpler to route and install, improving thermal designs and facilitating smaller form factor systems. |
It also enables easier, more flexible motherboard routing and the use of smaller connectors than is possible with the existing parallel ATA technology. The technology, enhanced by the benefits of the Serial ATA II spec, will provide a storage interface that meets the needs of computers for the next decade.
Several new products will be announced on the meeting too:
More information on this new standard can be found here. If you want to learn more about ATA I would suggest you read this.
Source: Intel.com
