Source : Hardware.fr (in French)
During the IDF, Seagate showcased the eSATA. This standard is an extension of SATA, which enables the external connection of storage devices. The cables can be upto 2 meters long, whereas the internal version allows only 1m of total cable length. The physical plug has also been slightly modified to ensure snug fits.
The big advantage that this standard has, is that, like FW, it doesn't need a host at each node to function. It poses then as a viable alternative to FW800, which has still not quite found its pace, except in external removable storage solutions. An eSATA drive only requires power supply, whereas FW also needs a converter (bridge).
However, eSATA cannot be daisy chained, and can only be used in storage applications.
