running on WinPC + comunication via USB

[martin.nkm at googlemail.com]

Hello, I have two questions.
1/ If I want to use Python and let my WinPC communicate via RS-232
with external embedded computer I know there is a pyserial module,
which I can use it. But what will happen if I want to replace RS-232
by USB? I know I can have virtual COM port, but all the configuration
parameters basically refer to RS-232 parameters - baudrate, bits,
stopbits, parity. In case of USB that's a nonsense I think. Does
anybody know?
2/ Second is a basic question. Do I need also cygwin running on my
Windows PC to get running Python scripts? Or is that Python
interpreter (Win executable) self efficient? Thanks.