recommend laptop with serial port ?

voxpop

Im looking for a new laptop, with a serial port. Noone seems to put serial ports on laptops any more! The specs dont have to be great, just general office specs. Any recommendations ?

Dingatron

Why don't you get one of these USB Serial Port Adapters? http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=107836

Then just get a standard dell laptop or the like.

voxpop

Those usb serial adapters are a bit flaky - I've had lots of problems with the ones i've tried so far. The laptop will be connected to quite a bit of industrial equipment that only communicates using rs232 so a reliable serial connection would avoid headaches in the future.

I am looking a pcmcia rs232 adapters - might be a solution - still a laptop with a serial port would be the best overall solution.

Tom Dunne

You won't get a consumer laptop/PC with a serial port these days. They spent years trying to get rid of the damn things.

The only thing I can think of is to get one of those rugged laptops. I think Toshiba do them, they are for very specific markets and may have serial ports.

Ghost Train

You could get something like a thinkpad and get a docking station for it, doubt there are many/any new laptops with dedicated serial ports any more

Dingatron

Toughbooks still have serial ports but also come at a hefty price. If its being used in an industrial enviroment though it could be worth the price.

http://www.toughbook-europe.com/ENG/notebook_cf-19.aspx

formatman

Dell D520 has a serial

http://www1.euro.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/latit_d520?c=ie&cs=iebsdt1&l=en&s=bsd&~section=specs#tabtop

voxpop

Cheers for the advise guys - Im now looking at either a latitude d620 or tosh tecra M5L. Both have serial ports and are similarly spec'ed. Any opinions on either ?