Laptop with built in RS232 (serial) port

**psychonitrous** · 08-04-10, 01:13 PM

I am in need of a laptop with a built in RS232 Port for work. USB adaptors do NOT work as the drivers seem to cause the computer to crash during operation of any terminal program which is very very very bad while in the middle of a router configuration. I would prefer something without an intel video card.

Just trying to see if any of you know of a decent laptop. Otherwise I will be calling every laptop manufacture known to man.

Thanks in advance.

**GReYVee** · 08-04-10, 01:19 PM

Hmm maybe a pcmcia adapter?

**psychonitrous** · 08-04-10, 01:43 PM

I thought about that, however, it seems companies are phasing out PCMCIA for some unknown reason. I am not sure if I willing to purchase a laptop with a PCMCIA slot and use an adapter to find the issues are also prevalent with said adapter. Although I will look into it if all other options are exhausted. Thanks for the response though.

**GReYVee** · 08-04-10, 03:54 PM

Hmm, I didn't realize OEMs were starting to phase those out. But I suppose that would be one way to increase real estate in laptops, i know I've only ever used the ones on my some odd 6 laptops like twice.
If you usually have access to an ip network this may also be a solution. Some of these smaller units look to be rather cheap. And I don't think Ethernet is going to be phased out any time soon.

http://www.digi.com/products/serials...e.jsp#overview

**WileECyte** · 08-04-10, 04:13 PM

What you should invest in is some sort of a terminal server product like Cyclades. That way it's independent of your laptop and you just connect to it over the network. It's what we use to manage all the serial consoles of our UNIX machines and Routers/Switches at work.

**Kanati** · 08-04-10, 08:48 PM

try Sager.

**psychonitrous** · 08-05-10, 10:28 AM

Thanks for all of the responses. I found a toshiba laptop with the serial port still attached. While a terminal server solution would work well for anything in house, it wouldn't help for anything out in the field. I run the wireless network for an ISP in the mountains in Colorado so a lot of the work I do takes place in very remote locations literally on the tops of mountains in small shacks.

Kanati those sager laptops look awesome btw.