USES FOR INFRA RED? (P/Book G3)

[Aeronautical]

HI all, I just bought a used G3 PowerBook (pismo) 500mhz, 20gb hard drive, airport card, and infra red port (IRDA).
Are there any uses for the infra red capability? Are there any devices I can use the port to connect wirelessly to?
Or has it been made obselete by airport and bluetooth? I've searched the forums on this topic but couldn't find the info I needed so any ideas are really appreciated!

 

[mrgreen4242]

HI all, I just bought a used G3 PowerBook (pismo) 500mhz, 20gb hard drive, airport card, and infra red port (IRDA).
Are there any uses for the infra red capability? Are there any devices I can use the port to connect wirelessly to?
Or has it been made obselete by airport and bluetooth? I've searched the forums on this topic but couldn't find the info I needed so any ideas are really appreciated!

Well, there are some older printers that will work over I/R... some of the slightly older Palms/PocketPC devices still have I/R... a lot of cell phones had I/R for awhile. You could also try to rig up some custom setup to use a universal remote control for things on your computer, like DVD playback, presentation software, etc.

 

[cardiac dave]

Tells you just how quickly technology evolves... IRDA was just prior to wireless and bluetooth wasn't it?

 

[rainman::|:|]

IRDA was used predominantly between 1996-2000, when they realized it was pointless compared to 802.11b. It's slow, short-range, and you need clear line-of-sight. I think the most common use for a PowerBook would be filesharing (Apple had a great idea that people on airplanes and busses would want automatic file sharing, really just a fun way to pass the time, but what do you really want to share with strangers like that?) with other 'books, or using an IR printer. But yeah, it's entirely pointless now, good only for the novelty factor (and universal remote controlling, which can be fun)

 

[FoxyKaye]

I think the most common use for a PowerBook would be filesharing (Apple had a great idea that people on airplanes and busses would want automatic file sharing, really just a fun way to pass the time, but what do you really want to share with strangers like that?)...

Ew - Unsafe computer. Never know what you could pick up...

Folks have also used IrDA to do fun things with Furbys as well - apparently the newer ones have been hacked pretty good, so a little Web searching would give you the correct hardware interface codes.

 

[vga4life]

HI all, I just bought a used G3 PowerBook (pismo) 500mhz, 20gb hard drive, airport card, and infra red port (IRDA).
Are there any uses for the infra red capability? Are there any devices I can use the port to connect wirelessly to?
Or has it been made obselete by airport and bluetooth? I've searched the forums on this topic but couldn't find the info I needed so any ideas are really appreciated!

The most useful thing is to sync a palmpilot. Every PalmOS device since the Palm III supports syncing via IR.

Some printers from the late '90s supported IR printing as well.

Beyond that, yeah, IRDA is a relic for most people.

 

[Mechcozmo]

Just for all ya people out there, it is IrDA. And you can use it with a fair number of Windows laptops out there, which still come with it. All my friends were bummed when my PowerBook didn't have it and I was saying to them: "What? No Bluetooth? Sheesh!"

 

[Aeronautical]

Great replies thanks. I think that i just realised that the infra red on my pismo is a pretty much a defunct thing now. Now if I just had a PDA .... (i hope I got that abbreviation right, personal digital assistant?)

 

[Rod Rod]

Now if I just had a PDA .... (i hope I got that abbreviation right, personal digital assistant?)

Yes that's correct. In this context nobody would have taken it to mean "public display of affection."

 

[katie ta achoo]

don't TV remotes use infrared?

His PowerBook could be a GIANT remote control!!

Try to loose a PowerBook in the couch cushions. It's impossible unless it's a 12" and you have one SWEET, fluffy couch.

 

[applemacdude]

I remmeber that i could turn on my 6500 with a tv remote........

 

[wheezy]

Infrared can be great fun with a nice pair of Night Vision Goggles. Of course, the fun only lasts a minute or two....

 

[fgersch]

It has it's uses

Problem is, a lot of niche products use Infra Red as a communications medium. I think it's because it's cheap and simple to use. For example I have an altimeter which records skydives. The software is available to use the data, but I can't find an infrared adaptor for my powerbook. The other one is serial devices. There's still a lot of these out there. Would be good to have ways to access the data.

If anyone knows of an adaptor available please let me know.

franz@stuntphoto.com

Cheers