Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
The IRDA

On an iMac was for transfering files between a Powerbook and an iMac. Those first rev. A & rev. B (did rev. C have an IRDA port?) didn't have airport so that was a cheap and simple means of transfering small documents between the two.

Something was up with the rev. D because it didn't include an infrared port. But the reason it didn't appeared later under the name of "airport".
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.