SATA overcomes the limitations of PATA and provides bus performance mapped to at least 600Mbits/sec in the near future. Storage device manufacturers are especially interested because the drives are easier to connect, as the new connectors can be used on 2.5-inch or smaller drives. The smaller connectors allow drives to be mounted closer together so that more drives can be packed into a SAN or NAS than was possible using PATA. (Keeping a denser packed box of drives cool will be a challenge, however.)
What's more, SATA delivers the headroom necessary for continued improvement in drive performance for the desktop. SATA drives retain full command compatibility with OSs that support PATA, making them fully compatible with systems supporting the older specification.
Hard drive makers can typically make two types of drives: enterprise-class and desktop. The enterprise-class drives are higher performance, spinning at 7,200rpm, 10,000rpm, or faster. They have larger data buffers and higher quality components that are designed for high reliability. The electronics inside the drives are also more sophisticated. Desktop drives aren't built with as much attention to performance and reliability. They typically run at 5,400 or 7,200rpm and have smaller buffers, and their internal components aren't designed for continuous use.
In addition to building the basic drive, manufacturers must install the logical interconnect. Enterprise-class drives typically get an FC, SAS, or SCSI interconnect, while desktop drives get SATA. However, enterprise-class drives are now getting SATA and SATA II interconnects, making them suitable for use in many enterprise-class storage devices.
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