Free Wi-Fi Coming to Starbucks

Not at the schools, but at the students homes.

It will widen the gap between those with and those without, and make this gap even harder to close.

 

Yeah, I've got two within 10 minutes of my front door, and the wi-fi at both appear to be powered by a AAA battery that was last replaced in 1989.

If I'm on the road and need 30 minutes on my laptop, I'll take the peace and quiet of Starbucks over the screaming brats at McD's or BK anyday. A Courtyard by Marriott is a strong runner-up choice.

 

I go to Panera to use wi-fi all the time. When I used to cover preps, two of the schools were right around the corner from a Panera. I'd write the story in the press box, get in the car and file it from Panera's parking lot.

Of course, I wouldn't buy a damn thing from Panera. It's overpriced garbage.

 

Yes I know you meant at students homes. And again, there are much bigger issues than whether or not a kid has high-speed Internet at home.

If they don't have it, they probably have a lot bigger issues to worry about.

 

I would rather get a coffee from the local 7-11 and sit in the library rather than drink Stabucks.

 

A lot of the Panera's that I have gone into seem to be cutting their WiFi access to 1 hour. After that, your mac address can't hit their server for about an hour or so. That sucks.

 

Let's see how long it takes for Peter King to mention this in one of his stories.

 

Regarding Panera... I've been going in there a lot to apply for jobs. I usually just buy a plain bagel, no cream cheese and get a cup of tap water with a lemon wedge. Total cost: 99 cents plus tax and the internet stays on as long as I'm there. It's great that Starbucks is finally getting with it and offering free wi-fi.

 

Tap water is about the only thing Panera has that's consumable.

 

The coffee and bagels are not half bad at Panera. The sammies, though, are shit.

 

Dumb Starbucks aside. When in China adopting our son a couple of years ago, sitting outside the Guangzhou Starbucks and mooching off their free wifi was the way I kept in touch with the world.

Had never realized Starbucks didn't have free wifi ... then again, I'm not much of an overpriced coffee drinker .

 

The scenery is good at both places.

Pretty mommies eat lunch at Panera.