StarTech 9-pin Serial to 10-pin Header Slot Plate with Low Profile Bracket Model PLATE9MLP

Pros: got it free as a bonus with a monitor i bought... awesome! a free doorstop!

Cons: not compatible with standard desktops

Other Thoughts: never got to use this, as again, I can't imagine any normal user (non-programmer) using something like this...

Pros: It's exactly what it says it is. The wires aren't brittle and the metal is strong, for what it's worth.

Cons: I didn't realize until I got this that serial connectors have the same exact outline as old VGA connectors. You can just as easily use the plate off of an old video card, so it doesn't make sense to buy one if you have any spare parts.

Other Thoughts: To be fair, low profile graphics cards with only VGA ports are somewhat uncommon. And this can work the other way if you have a video card (like I do) that's low profile ready, and relocates the VGA to another slot to do so.

Pros: New mobo did not have an external serial (DB9) connector which I needed for my cassette audio to MP3 player/recorder. searched everywhere and could not find one....even at Radio Shack. But NewEgg had it and it works perfectly....THANKS

Cons: none

Pros: Works perfectly with my BeagleBoard.

Cons: No full-height bracket for desktop use.

Pros: * Inexpensive

Cons: * I didn't notice (my fault), that this is a low-profile bracket, not a full size bracket. So, it doesn't completely fit in most desktop slots.

* Cable is short. So, it won't be able to reach most COM1 motherboard connectors.

Pros: Used this in a mini-ITX based InWin case - it is a perfect way to extend the serial header on the board to this little case. I have some amateur radio stuff that still use a serial COM port, this connector met my need. Good build quality.

Cons: Unfortunately there weren't any instructions that detailed which way the header connector should be oriented; however the "odds" of getting it plugged in correctly on the motherboard are 50/50, right? It didn't work the first way I tried it, so I shut it down, flipped it 180deg and restarted and voil'a, it worked.

Pros: It works... it's just a cable.

Cons: A little pricing considering the parts involved.
Could add in a full profile bracket or something.

Other Thoughts: To the guy below, and to all others. COM ports are still used in embedded programming and other tasks which involve programming hardware.

Pros: allows modern motherboards that have a COM header to connect to 'legacy' devices like older GPS's that customer lost the USB cable to.

Cons: Who uses COM/Serial devices anymore?

Other Thoughts: I used to have a zillion of these things around when I worked for DFI but apparently they are more popular (necessary?) than I realized as I couldn't find a single one and had to hit up the Egg.