CV wrote:

My old portable PC packed up definitely a few weeks ago and
when I started looking around for a new one I found that
none of them have the old traditional serial port anymore !?

All new notebooks have USB ports, that replace the serial ports. To connect
an old serial cable, you need an usb-to-serial adapter. These adapters are
to be found in electronic shops, and on eBay in the 10-20 $ range (at least
in europe). They work fine.
Eggert