Great NYT piece on how having public WiFi, but charging for it is the Web-age version of the "coin-operated locks on bathroom stalls." Starbucks and McDonalds fit this mold.
The article notes that DFW is even charging airline passengers caught in its labyrinth for electricity to plug up!
But it does point to several chains who are using free WiFi as the "air-conditioning of the Internet age."
Panera Bread and Schlotzsky’s Delis (but not here apparently) are among those mentioned as having free WiFi. The writer is in Silicon Valley so I guess that's why Krystal (whose first free WiFi location was in Knoxville) didn't make the list. Krystal doesn't seem to have a place on its jazz-upped Web site to find a list of the WiFi locations. Duh!
Actually, a number of restaurants and other businesses in the Knoxville area "get it" a little better than Starbucks. Here's one incomplete list.
What are the best free Wifi locations in the Knoxville area?
(via Techmeme)
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I have found this particularly aggravating in various airports. Small regionals like Tri-Cities and Greenville Spartanburg have free wifi. The big hubs like Atlanta and Minneapolis-St. Paul (ugh, I hope I never have to travel through there again) charge the people who are stuck for two hour layovers - or, rather, they farm out the charging to someone else, much like Starbucks. Interestingly, Charlotte is a hub with free wifi. Perhaps that's why I'll travel through Charlotte whenever possible.
Panera in Alcoa has free wi-fi, so does Atlanta Bread Co. (and it's quite popular). McAllister's Deli over here also has it. And of course, the Krystals on Alcoa Highway and Cumberland.
And yeah, the Starbucks/T-Mobile deal is a ripoff. Starbucks is way behind the times on this.
My laundromat, next to the Arby's on Cedar Bluff, has free Wifi. The connection is great too. I'm also a fan of the Panera on N. Peters.
The connection is great too. I'm also a fan of the Pan era. The big hubs like Atlanta and Minneapolis-St. Paul (ugh, I hope I never have to travel through there again) charge the people who are stuck for two hour layovers - or, rather, they farm out the charging to someone else, much like Star bucks.