Just using locally (Philippines) available parts, I've constructed 10 Atmel AVR microcontroller development boards, using stripboards. What is not pictured, is my 1st two Atmel AVR boards from ProtoStack (Australia).
And, believe it or not... I'm only doing this as a hobby...
Kuya Marc
What do you do with them all? 
Man that shows some dedication.
Rob
I like #10 with the zif socket, good thinking.
I did a few of them on breadboard and uses the MAX232 and a USB-Serial converter... but it is kinda silly to convert the TTL from 5V to +/- 12V then back to 5V again...
I tried looking for the Nokia CA-42 locally at mobile phone shops...
Most of the shops give me a strange look... later I found out only very old Nokia models uses CA-42 cables...
End up using the DFR's FTDI Breakout board... would like a DIP version of USB-TTL but most of the USB-TTL are all surface mount chips..