I have just purchased a new ultra compact laptop which is great but doesn't have a serial connection (none of the ultra compacts seem to)

I am having trouble connecting with the Marantz remotes - RC5200 / RC9200.

The laptop does have a USB socket and I have tried using a USB to Serial convertor made by a company called Belkin but with no luck (latest drivers with windows XP) the port is recognised but the remote isn't recognised.

Anyone know how to solve this problem, why don't the remote manufacturers use USB on their latest products?