Wi-fi, laptops and coffee
Interesting article about the pros and cons of internet access in cafés in the Boston Globe:
http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2006/07/09/wi_fi_wars/?page=full
The article makes a distinction between the point of view of the owners and that of the internet users. Most interesting to me is the point that cafés turn into offices. Some users say that being in a public space actually helps them work better, but, er, what about the rest of us? I *like* a café to be full of conversation!
Some excerpts:
In and around Boston, cafe owners who installed wireless signals to draw customers say they also are drawing Internet users who tie up seats for hours, buy little or nothing, and make coffee shops feel like the office as they tap away at their laptops. Now some owners are fighting back by charging for wireless access, shutting off their signal at peak business hours, or telling loitering laptoppers to shell out or ship out.
``There comes a time when you have to tell people, `Look, you've been here for three hours, and you've bought only a cup of coffee and it's time to move,' " said Adam Goldberg , owner of Emack & Bolio's in Jamaica Plain. ``We had points in time when people would sit for six or seven hours and not buy anything."
(...)
But cafe owners who are watching their bottom lines have noticed another side effect of wireless: Their coffee shops are starting to look and sound less like social spots and more like offices.
``Wireless has changed the atmosphere here," Park said . ``You see a lot more people buried in their computers as opposed to reading and chatting."
http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2006/07/09/wi_fi_wars/?page=full
The article makes a distinction between the point of view of the owners and that of the internet users. Most interesting to me is the point that cafés turn into offices. Some users say that being in a public space actually helps them work better, but, er, what about the rest of us? I *like* a café to be full of conversation!
Some excerpts:
In and around Boston, cafe owners who installed wireless signals to draw customers say they also are drawing Internet users who tie up seats for hours, buy little or nothing, and make coffee shops feel like the office as they tap away at their laptops. Now some owners are fighting back by charging for wireless access, shutting off their signal at peak business hours, or telling loitering laptoppers to shell out or ship out.
``There comes a time when you have to tell people, `Look, you've been here for three hours, and you've bought only a cup of coffee and it's time to move,' " said Adam Goldberg , owner of Emack & Bolio's in Jamaica Plain. ``We had points in time when people would sit for six or seven hours and not buy anything."
(...)
But cafe owners who are watching their bottom lines have noticed another side effect of wireless: Their coffee shops are starting to look and sound less like social spots and more like offices.
``Wireless has changed the atmosphere here," Park said . ``You see a lot more people buried in their computers as opposed to reading and chatting."
Comments
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Subject: Re: Wi-fi, laptops and coffee
Teppaz wrote: Interesting article about the pros and cons of internet access in cafés in the Boston Globe:
A rather lengthy thread has developed on Park Slope Parents on a related (and local) subject - apparently Comfort Zone on 5th Avenue has a time limit on how long you can sit at a table, which is pissing off a lot of folks royally (especially since apparently the place is nearly empty most of the time).
http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2006/07/09/wi_fi_wars/?page=full
The article makes a distinction between the point of view of the owners and that of the internet users. Most interesting to me is the point that cafés turn into offices. Some users say that being in a public space actually helps them work better, but, er, what about the rest of us? I *like* a café to be full of conversation!
Some excerpts:
In and around Boston, cafe owners who installed wireless signals to draw customers say they also are drawing Internet users who tie up seats for hours, buy little or nothing, and make coffee shops feel like the office as they tap away at their laptops. Now some owners are fighting back by charging for wireless access, shutting off their signal at peak business hours, or telling loitering laptoppers to shell out or ship out.
``There comes a time when you have to tell people, `Look, you've been here for three hours, and you've bought only a cup of coffee and it's time to move,' " said Adam Goldberg , owner of Emack & Bolio's in Jamaica Plain. ``We had points in time when people would sit for six or seven hours and not buy anything."
(...)
But cafe owners who are watching their bottom lines have noticed another side effect of wireless: Their coffee shops are starting to look and sound less like social spots and more like offices.
``Wireless has changed the atmosphere here," Park said . ``You see a lot more people buried in their computers as opposed to reading and chatting." -
while i see this is becoming more of an issue w/ laptopers, it certainly happens w/ readers/chatters. i've often wanted to sit down with a newspaper and read for a bit WHILE enjoying my coffee (and LEAVING when i am finished w/ my paid beverage). i've walked out of numerous places w/o buying anything when there is no place to sit... the tables often being taken up by people w/ empty cups (not only empty cups but empty cups where the extra liquid has actually dried to the side of the cup). these people could at least go to starbucks... i don't care if they get screwed (and i'd never go to starbucks anyway).
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The Brooklyn Public Library at Grand Army Plaza offers wi-fi service and a cafe.
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Anonymous wrote: The Brooklyn Public Library at Grand Army Plaza offers wi-fi service and a cafe.
Although you can buy coffee at the library's cafe, you don't have to spend money to access the free wi-fi service. -
Anonymous wrote: [quote=Anonymous]The Brooklyn Public Library at Grand Army Plaza offers wi-fi service and a cafe.
Although you can buy coffee at the library's cafe, you don't have to spend money to access the free wi-fi service.
True. Also, I don't think there's anyplace to plug in by the cafe. If you want to plug in, you have to go to the 2nd floor, where coffee is verbotten. -
why dont the owners like give out a password for a coffee that is brought but only last 2 hrs or so.
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It's kinda like what Netzero found out way back when - the kind of people attracted by free internet access (at the "cost" of looking at piles of ads in Netzero's case) are not the kind of people who are going to buy much. Needless to say, their advertisers didn't hang around too long and I think they just charge for the service now.
Free wireless will go the way of the dodo if it's not a net money maker, and it looks like some folks are working hard to ensure it isn't. Oh well. More seats for me without the laptop veggies, I guess.
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