Not anything you could buy new.
Why not just use a USB to RS-232 adapter?
That’s what I do.
I need to connect to the serial ports of various systems with my laptop. I go into the lab with my handy Radio Shack USB-Serial adapter, and I’m good to go.
Some laptops come with an optional connector for expansion to serial-parallel ports thru an additional part.
There are software programs and hardware made to emulate RS232 thru Bluetooth devices. Check out blueconsole.com for more.
Other than that, you’ll have to go to a used laptop to get it to work.
http://www.tristar.com/
I can sell ya one of mine.
call Tiger Direct. They have excellent technical staff who will happily help you and sell what you need at a fair price.
1-800-800-8300
It can be had pretty cheaply on the Dell Outlet.
I am certain your laptop has a USB port. Why not purchase a USB to RS232 adapter for about $20.00. http://www.usbserial.com/
Your best bet is to purchase one of these laptop cards with your laptop.
My Dell Latitude has one. You can probably get a converter.
After looking through the Dell Latitude line, a lot of them have serial ports. Check out the “Tech Specs” on the “Product Details” page and look for “Expandability,” then “Ports,” and it will say Serial if it has it.
But as I said before, I can confirm that the Latitude D531 has it.
My Dell Inspiron 1525 lists one as COM 3 Baud rate 128000 in it’s Hardware System Information
The Thinkpad T40 series were the last Thinkpads to come with a serial port and they aren’t too outdated. Try to get yourself a T42 or T43.
You said you’ve had problems with adapters. Are you using the cheapo brand or a quality one made by Keyspan? I don’t know what your application is, but we use Keyspans for emulators, UART, etc, etc with no problems ever. You can check some reviews here:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812999081
There are apparently seven chipsets out that are used in these devices, and three of them are buggy and have unsigned drivers, whereas the rest have signed drivers and work quite well.
For myself, I'd rather try a $10 solution rather than jumping to a new laptop.
USB to RS-232 adapter
keeps that dot matrix going since I am too cheap to buy another
Must be some pretty old software.
Lenovo 3000 series
ping!
As mentioned before, try a different USB to RS232 converter. As wasn’t mentioned before, try one withe a different chip inside of it. You can find out the chip usually by haunting Linux forums on the web.
Try a Radio Shack Model 100... If you can still find one.
Here are some things to consider. If you are running an old device you may want to consider Microsoft Virtual Machine(it's free). Microsoft VM enables you run an older OS or experimental software and test for integrity. What you may want to do, for instance, is run the device under Windows 3.11 to support a device, play a game or access certain software that is no longer supported on say Vista 64bit.
VM Ware has a much better program that does the same thing for about a $100 bucks. I haven't found the need for it so I don't use it.
So you run the software your device was originally designed for and use a USB-RS232 converter.
Saves some money and doesn't force you to buy a computer designed for a specific need.
Another option is to buy a used computer from the era your device ran on and network it to your existing computer, if it is possible.
You may have to adjust the speed at which the information flows from 19200 down to 9600 or whatever works. You will just need to experiment. There are even guys who will give software as an interface for free. here are a few. Read their specs. http://www.rs485.com/psoftware.html http://www.lammertbies.nl/comm/info/RS-232-usb.html Here is one by Belkin. They explain it as an intermediary for Palm Pilots, cameras, etc. http://download.cnet.com/Belkin-F5U103-USB-RS232-Adapter/3000-18493_4-69930.html You can google others. Personally, I would try the Virtual Machine option and load whatever OS you originally used the device on. Good luck Hope this helps.