I’m not a coffee drinker, so the Starbucks brand means exactly one thing: no free WiFi.
I was walking through Georgetown yesterday and grumbled (and shot this picture) as I walked past the Starbucks on M Street in my quest for a place to work. Starbucks WiFi is provided by T-Mobile for $9.99 a day or $39.99 a month.
I can’t think of a national chain that means “free WiFi” the same way that Starbucks means “pay for WiFi.” In this region, the Cosi chain has free WiFi.
A few blocks further, I found a cozy patio at Cafe Tu-O-Tu (a play on DC’s area code). Not only did they have free WiFi, the space was much nicer.
I’m not sure if they have any downtown, but Panera offers free wifi and a similar atmosphere to Starbucks.
Comment by Steve Agalloco — June 7, 2007 @ 9:22 am
[...] the value of high-priced coffee, independent coffeehouses benefit. I prefer independents because, unlike Starbucks, many of them have free WiFi. via Robert [...]
Pingback by Weekly Reader - Dec. 29, 2007 - TV, Coffee, Branson and « reDesign — December 29, 2007 @ 8:38 am
[...] the value of high-priced coffee, independent coffeehouses benefit. I prefer independents because, unlike Starbucks, many of them have free WiFi. via Robert [...]
Pingback by Weekly Reader - Dec. 29, 2007 - TV, Coffee, patents and Branson « reDesign — December 29, 2007 @ 8:39 am