Solution:
The advantages and disadvantages of using the serial console connection compared to the USB console connection to a cisco router or switch Re as follows:
USB stands for Universal Serial Bus. The advantages over serial and parallel connections are several and quite significant. The data transfer rate of a USB port is quite high I don't remember the specifics but it's something like 10MB/sec. Serial ports are significantly slower and while parallel ports are somewhat faster they are still very slow in comparison to a USB port. The transfer rate is quite miser compared to USB.
Another great difference is that with serial or parallel devices you must reboot the computer every time you change a device on the port. USB devices are hot-swappable, meaning you can change them out with the computer on, without having to reboot since the system will automatically detect when a device is plugged in (at least this is Micro$oft claims).
A great advantage is that several devices to a single USB port through a port hub.
The only disadvantage is in USB devices are limited to a distance of about 7ft from the port. Serial devices can be extended to a much greater distances.