Wi-Fi used to be a lot more fun.
If you were traveling on business or on vacation, it used to be that firing up your laptop and finding a variety of open Wi-Fi connections was a snap. Within minutes, your were checking e-mail or surfing the Web. We were sharing, being part of the community. It was all good.
Today, an open Wi-Fi connection is nearly extinct. In most cases, ever connection is “secure” and password-protection.I say, it’s the media’s fault for making people aware of the fact you should protect your network. Then, you’ve got the router makers who are making it easier to set up a secure connection.
Now what do us network freeloaders supposed to do?
Really annoying when you consider that WEP (most widely used WiFi security) can be cracked in 15 minutes. So you lose all that “free Internet love,” and gain a false sense of security.
Use the time to work on your grammar and spelling. I understand the “off the pants” rant style, but that was a little silly…
As I type this I’m sitting in a bar on Queen Street with free WiFi. That and the cheap beer are the reason I come here. There are more and more establishments offering their customers free WiFi access; sometimes you need a password but they don’t charge you for it, they just want to be sure you’re a patron before they hand over the goods.
Some places (most notably a chain of overpiced coffee/latte shops that don’t deserve any mention) provide WiFi through a pay service that charges by the minute. No thanks. Pay $8 for a cup of creamy Joe AND pay on top of that to access the net? Not gonna happen. Although I’m sure there are enough net-wise and penny-foolish muggles out there willing to pay up.
The business model I’ve seen work best is to provide free access to draw in and retain a customer base.
Excuse me whilst I order another beer.
Ahhhh.
Where was I? Ah yes … free WiFi. There’s also an outfit called Wireless Toronto that is trying to establish a city-wide WiFi network that operates free of charge. They can be found at wirelesstoronto.ca. I’m not affiliated with them in any way and I don’t know if there are similar operations in other Canadian cities but there sure as hell should be.
Toronto Hydro was making noises for a while that they were going to introduce city-wide WiFi … with the catch that the first 3 months would be free and then they would start to charge. I predict after those first three months their users will fall away like autumn leaves.
Me? I’ll be sitting at Rhino’s.
Now if I could just get connected when we go camping.