Need recommendation for USB or PCMCIA to RS232 (Real or latest UART)

[nizee]

Friend wanted to give me AVR programmer board for me to try to learn but it use serial RS232 connector, but i don't have it on my labtop.
I was told centain USB to serial converter don't work. The best is to build your own using FTDI chip. I wish i knew how to do it.
But is there on the market that i can buy that is ready made USB to RS232 (Real or latest UART) or even PCMCIA to RS232 (Real or latest UART), eeerrr....cheap?
That way, i can get started learning the AVR immediately.

Any help would be appreciated.

PS : I saw eBay sell a lot of those USB/PCMCIA to serial RS232 adapter really cheap. Which one will work best?

[taos]

I have tested other model of USB2RS232 with a pic programmer and with a sattelite box and in both cases the software doesn't run so I will not waste my money on it. Buy a PCI with RS232. Regards

[nizee]

I have tested other model of USB2RS232 with a pic programmer and with a sattelite box and in both cases the software doesn't run so I will not waste my money on it. Buy a PCI with RS232. Regards

Thanks for the reply.
But i have laptop, don't have PCI, accept PCMCIA or cardbus they call it.

Any recommendation for PCMCIA or Cardbus for Serial that works for both PIC and AVR?

[nizee]

i suppose this won't work either?
http://www.dlpdesign.com/usb/us232cable.shtml

USB base on FTDI.

I like to program AVR and PIC board out there in the future.

Advice/Recommendation? Anyone?