Wireless Cafes/wi-fi restraunts in Lincoln Park area? (Chicago: hair salon, apartment)

[obsurd]

Hey guys,

Im about to get a laptop for work, and to save money w/ comcast and not pay a ton for an internet connection...i think i'll just find a place in Lincoln Park where i can take my laptop and do my thing whenever i need to go online.

Anybody have any good ideas?

[Avengerfire]

The Library.

[sharkylittleton]

Originally Posted by obsurd

Hey guys,

Im about to get a laptop for work, and to save money w/ comcast and not pay a ton for an internet connection...i think i'll just find a place in Lincoln Park where i can take my laptop and do my thing whenever i need to go online.

Anybody have any good ideas?

I pay 29.99 for t-mobile hot spot. Last I checked you should be able to connect to all of your local Starbucks and Borders book stores. There is a chance that your cool independent cafe or bookstore has it, but you'll probably have to find it and check first.

[Mel2882]

Starbucks is about to change over to AT&T here in Chicago, so I wouldn't invest in a T-Mobile plan if you're planning on going there, (although as of now, you can get daily or montly plans, but that gets expensive). Caribou coffee has free internet, as does Panera Bread.

[Avengerfire]

I thought the point here was to not pay money for internet service? 30-35 a month is maybe saving 5 dollars from comcast. What would be the point?

[CarolinaBredChicagoan]

JiWire Wi-Fi Finder and Hotspot Directory

By no means is jiwire an exhaustive, nor an always-updated list. Still, it's a start.

Hotspots all over. I refuse to pay for wifi at Starbucks. Most local coffee shops have free wifi. I can think of 4 or 5 places within 2 blocks of my apartment with free wifi.

I've seen free wifi at bars, restaurants, and according to a sign in one window, hair salons.

[Avengerfire]

Well the thing is most places are not going to let you sit there and not buy anything while using their free wifi.

I mean how cheap are people going to be? If one can afford to live in Lincoln Park, but not pay 30-40 bucks a month for internet, what is one doing living there? If things are that tight, one is way above their league or a really cheap Sob.

[aragx6]

Originally Posted by Avengerfire

Well the thing is most places are not going to let you sit there and not buy anything while using their free wifi.

Actually I've done it at Panera dozens of times. Water, sugar and lemon makes free lemonade and I've sat there for hours without being bugged.

I've always thought it was insane that a company like Starbucks would not have free wi-fi. In college no one ever hung out at Starbucks to study, but Panera was packed and if people are there long enough they'll probably buy a muffin and a coffee or four!

[sharkylittleton]

Originally Posted by aragx6

Actually I've done it at Panera dozens of times. Water, sugar and lemon makes free lemonade and I've sat there for hours without being bugged.

I've always thought it was insane that a company like Starbucks would not have free wi-fi. In college no one ever hung out at Starbucks to study, but Panera was packed and if people are there long enough they'll probably buy a muffin and a coffee or four!

They might not have bothered you but they sure noticed you didn't purchase anything. It's a double edged sword for free wi-fi establishments. Advertising free wi-fi will get customers in the door, but thats not a guarantee that the customer will make a purchase. They cant advertise a minimum purchase, then the wi-fi wouldnt be free would it?

[aragx6]

I just don't think of it a a double-edged sword for Starbucks to offer free wi-fi because it's really very cheap to offer. Plenty of mom and pops and smaller chains do it. Starbucks obviously makes money off of this deal with T-Mobile and that's what annoys me.