Eggert Ehmke wrote:
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

Big thanks to you, and others who replied. The adapter seems to be
the quick and easy way out for the moment. But I'll keep the PDA
in mind too. Must say that fiddling around with the laptop in
the cockpit when you are just about to derig and have a thousand
other things to think about is a bit invonvenient.

Thanks again /CV