Re: Only real use for this one....
Half the boards I deal with still have serial port headers internally (all you need is the backplate connector), especially the 24*7 industrial PC ones (fujitsu, etc)
This is a specialist device and I can see huge advantage in having a network port if you can upload floppy images to it (Cover and dustproofing makes it more robust and USB ports on machining devices get crap in them). Serial cables are problematic over long distances.
Other odd stuff you can buy are things like 2.5" PATA to M2 or MSATA adaptors. These work far better (and are much cheaper overall) than attempting to buy a PATA SSD (been there done that). Again it's for specialist work. It's economic to use them in an old laptop but the greater utility is in old (expensive) industrial control stuff like CNC systems where the drive has gone titsup (been there, done that too. Trying to control via the serial port was doable but SLOOOOW)
Biting the hand that feeds IT
