IDE Technology itself has progressed along with the harddrives. Originally, the ATA interface is a 16bit interface running at PIO 1 (PIO is programmed input/output), or PIO 2. ATA-2 introduced DMA, along with higher PIO modes, capable of running PIO 3, and 4. Ultra ATA introduced ATA/33 or DMA/33. This supported DMA with a 33Mbps throughput. Then ATA/66 doubled the throughput of its predecessor with 66Mbps. With the introduction of ATA/66, and 100, IDE is now a good rival to Apple's technology SCSI.

An old IDE Drive, so long that it often had to be placed on the bottom slot so it wouldn't run into drive bays:

This Harddrive was bigger than current CD/DVD Drives, and could only hold 41megs:

This concludes a look at computing past part one. With the advancement of technology in the past, it is easy to see the road of the future. Smaller, faster, more efficient is a common theme among all technological advancements covered here. The next article will cover sound card, video cards, and cd-roms.

by Ross Johnson

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