no com ports?

What device do you want to connect? Most new devices that would require a serial port can be connected to USB (things like a PDA, a modem). You could also get a USB to serial converter that would let you plug in most serial devices (although you may have trouble with old software).

Thanks for reply. I'm trying to hook up the brand new Magellan maridian color gps I just got for x-mas, it's only connection is serial port. I saw the adapter but it's 50$, why doesn't Dell salesman tell you this when your bying your pc especilly when your asking if there's anything your missing or don't knoww that you need?

Did you talk to the salesman about what you were going to do with the computer? If you had mentioned the GPS, the salesman might have asked about the connection. There's not much you can do about that now. The old-style serial and parallel ports are all but dead. USB has replaced them, but for those of us with existing devices, (and for your GPS unit), you have 3 options:

1) Contact the mfgr of the GPS unit, and see if they have a USB version. You might be able to exchange it.

2) Get a USB-to-serial adapter (the one Dell sells is now $5 off.

3) Get a PCI serial card. You can find them in any computer store (even Wal-Mart carries them).