Major ports and connectors/interface

• IDE  -              Integrated Drive Electronics, also know as ATA, EIDE, Ultra ATA, Ultra DMA,
                        most widely used interface for hard disks
                        
• PS/2 port -      mini Din plug with 6 pins for a mouse and keyboard
                         
• SCSI -            Small Computer System Interface,
                       80 - 640 Mbs, capable of handling internal/external peripherals
                        
• Serial Port -    adheres to RS-232c spec,
                       uses DB9 or DB25 connector, capable of 115kb.sec speeds
                                
• Parallel port - as know as printer port,
                       enhanced types: ECP- extended capabilities port, EPP - enhanced parallel port
                   
• USB - universal serial bus,
                       two types: 1.0 and 2.0, hot plug-and-play, at 12MB/s, up to 127 devices chain.
                       2.0 data rate is at 480 bits/s.
                             
• Firewire -       high speed serial port, 400 MB/s, hot plug-and-play,
                       30 times faster than USB 1.0