In SX Microcontrollers, SX/B Compiler and SX-Key Tool, George Herzog wrote:

Well, if you really don't have an RS-232 port [many newer devices don't], by all means use an adapter.  But if you have an RS-232 port, there is really no reason to include the USB as nothing is gained in speed.

Full duplex RS-485 will allow longer distances, but RS-232 is okay for 50 feet. So again, why bother with adding layers of hardware and technology.

If you really want a complex RS-485 network, CANbus - which has 8 byte packets - will allow multiple masters and multiple slaves. But since you say that you are just getting started, I would recommend avoiding such complexities until you really need them.

Mostly, the simpler the solution, the better.  You will likely  be needing or wanting ADC  chips to accumulate data.  Each channel can sample and hold data until read.  By reading in a round robin fashion, one BasicStamp can provide 8 channels of useful data that is sent to the PC as one packet of 16 bytes [each sample is 12bits or longer, so 2 bytes are required].

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