Serial ports are not going away anytime soon.....

I use a Dell 8500 which I specifially purchases because of the serial port and the widescreen display. The extra resolution is awesome when I'm working on Crestron or AMX as I can have both software suites up on the screen at the same time.... Comes in handy with all kinds of programming.

I'm not positive that new 8600 has the serial port, but I bet it does.. Worst case, you can get the enhanced port replicator for it which does provide the serial port.

You can get the 8600 pretty loaded for under 2K The screen alone is worth it in my book, and the seial port is a bonus.

We just picked up a couple Compaqs and have to use adaptors with those.... PITA if I do say so.....