"The IDE is faster". I imagined the SATA drives were faster as it
seems from what i can gather that the IDEs are being phased out. I've
spent a while looking at the best value for money and my choice was
down to 40, 80, 160 GBs - £30 - £37.

I have two IDE remote cases hence IDE. Due to my machine being 3/4
years old i don't think it can take SATA drives. While the connection
is serial rather than parallel [8 pin instead of 80 or so], less
material, faster, and provide hot swopping. and now much cheaper than
IDE.

Or is this theory rather than practice!