You will most certainly have to run your software in virtual XP, but it should work. I hear that there are issues with accessing PCMCIA cards in virtual mode. Other than that, most people have had pretty good success.
It has a 350 dollars off and then you can search the web for 'coupon code' , I found one for another 300, so I got the e5500 for around 700 and it has a serial port with XP Mode preloaded