Purpose of a Infrared Transmitter

I read an article (http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article.php?id=86) about Infrared Transmitter for computers, but I don't understand what it is used for?

Some devices like mobile phones and PDAs use IR to transmit data...

At my old job, you can sit two laptops together and transfer files. Was good if you were not connected to a network and had to do a presentation. It was slow, rather use a thumb drive instead, but that was before they were cheap.

Eric

Yeah, I always found IR quite unreliable...my phone has it, my old laptop has it, but my new laptop doesnt, so it is pretty useless to me. Thumb drives are one of the best ways to transfer data nowadays. However, IR still does have its uses, as it was designed as a concept to transfer data orignally.

Yeah, IR in computers was something that never really became popular, sorta like 2.88MB floppies, lol.

I always found IR useless....unreliable etc. One concept that never 'took off':D

could be useful if you wanted to run the 'exciting' MS windows Media center edition.. you know complete with remote control!!

not that i do. but if i did, i wouldn't want to get up to change the channel.

heh who uses M$ Windows Media center anyway?