While it is true that builtin RS-232 on laptops is becoming rare, this isn't a good reason to eliminate the RS-232 requirement on equipment vendors. The reality is that I am willing to accept this on laptops because it is easy to find USB<-->Serial adapters that are well supported under all common laptop operating systems. On the other hand, it's not so common to find ways to support devices that have USB consoles with such vast compatibility.
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