Woops I replied to the wrong person the first time, my bad
![grin grin](/images/graemlins/mirc/grin.gif)
Wether it is easier or not depends on one important factor: knowledge of COM.
If you don't know COM, then it will be easier to use sockets, however if you know COM there are suddenly a lot of extra possibilities
![laugh laugh](/images/graemlins/mirc/laugh.gif)