Or did they feel the heat? Either way, it appears from this that they've loosened their death grip on their wireless network.
Although a password-protected network is still a closed one in my book (even though it's suggested they'll give a login to anyone, cardholder or not, this isn't made clear), this is certainly a step in the right direction.
Memo to the library: If you're OK with giving login credentials to anyone, why still bother with requiring a login? Less hassle getting onto your network will result in more usage of the network. Which, of course, will result in less demand for time on your public computers, making them more available for people who really need them. You know, the people the computers are there for in the first place.
Win-win all around, wouldn't you say?
Thursday, August 21, 2008
At least it LOOKS inviting...
Latte Land
7900 State Line Road, Prairie Village
802.11g
SSID: LATTELAND
I must be honest and tell you I didn't sit down at this location and boot up like Macenstein did at the other Latte Land locations we've reviewed. I was in the area on other business and was pressed for time, but since we've reported so infrequently from the Golden Ghetto since the blog's early days, I didn't want to pass up this opportunity entirely. So, I pulled out ye olde finder which verified the protocol and SSID on the open access point, and pressed my nose to the window to try and give you an idea of the layout's laptop-friendliness.
While I saw a pair of power outlets in the corner to the right of the entrance, it didn't seem as if there were more along the north wall. However, there are a couple of booths like Macenstein found at the 47th Street Plaza location on the opposite side of the building, with the same hard-to-reach outlets on front beneath the seat cushions. The appealing thing about them, however, is that they're next to a fireplace built into the south wall. I may be tempted to come back around the holidays when they fire that up. Might make it a nice place to take a brief respite from shopping.
And I can only guess, but since the building faces east, with big windows to the front and north side, it might be best to plan your visit sometime other than early morning while the sun is still low if you're bringing a laptop with you.
7900 State Line Road, Prairie Village
802.11g
SSID: LATTELAND
I must be honest and tell you I didn't sit down at this location and boot up like Macenstein did at the other Latte Land locations we've reviewed. I was in the area on other business and was pressed for time, but since we've reported so infrequently from the Golden Ghetto since the blog's early days, I didn't want to pass up this opportunity entirely. So, I pulled out ye olde finder which verified the protocol and SSID on the open access point, and pressed my nose to the window to try and give you an idea of the layout's laptop-friendliness.
While I saw a pair of power outlets in the corner to the right of the entrance, it didn't seem as if there were more along the north wall. However, there are a couple of booths like Macenstein found at the 47th Street Plaza location on the opposite side of the building, with the same hard-to-reach outlets on front beneath the seat cushions. The appealing thing about them, however, is that they're next to a fireplace built into the south wall. I may be tempted to come back around the holidays when they fire that up. Might make it a nice place to take a brief respite from shopping.
And I can only guess, but since the building faces east, with big windows to the front and north side, it might be best to plan your visit sometime other than early morning while the sun is still low if you're bringing a laptop with you.
Friday, August 15, 2008
Well, 'tis it or 'tain't it?
An open letter to the proprietor(s) of the Main Street Laundry at 3324 Main in Kansas City:
Sir(s) and/or Madam(s):
As one would readily expect sooner or later, it has come to our attention that there are signs proclaiming "Wi-Fi" adorning your establishment. I wish I could tell you that we were in the process of doing just the most awesome writeup we've given a newly discovered location in years.
Well, we aren't.
You see, in order for that to happen, there are certain other things that have to happen first. For one thing, we have to verify that you actually are offering wireless Internet access. The question of whether that access is free and open-and therefore eligible to be listed here-is, of course, still to be determined at that point.
That first step, however, can prove to be a bit daunting when it isn't even possible to discern which, if any, of the plethora of access points detectible on your premises is, in fact, yours. You do realize that the mere existence of an open network does not by itself constitute evidence that it is intended for use by others, don't you? Your signs merely say "Wi-Fi." They don't mention whether it's free, play-for-pay, open only to customers who obtain an access code from you, or just what. For all anyone knows, the pair of open APs with default SSIDs that were reported to us could belong to an unsuspecting apartment dweller or businessperson around the corner, and yours could be one of the encrypted ones.
As a first suggestion, why not try what we advised Latte Land to do at one of its Plaza locations, and what they are actually doing at the other-change the SSID on your router to something that will CLEARLY identify it as the one to which you intend your customers to connect? If I may be so bold, how about something like "Main Street Laundry?"
And if your Wi-Fi is free and open, why not tell everyone? Those signs in front could (ahem, ahem) use a little work.
On the other hand, if you do restrict access or if your network is play-for-pay, you really need to make that clear through signage and possibly some printed handouts. If people are coming in and inadvertently connecting to those open APs thinking they're yours, you conceivably could eventually be held accountable for aiding and abetting a crime. Can't have that, can we?
Feel free to leave a comment or e-mail me if you'd like to discuss this or have us check out the place again-which we'll be happy to do if it's free and open.
Sir(s) and/or Madam(s):
As one would readily expect sooner or later, it has come to our attention that there are signs proclaiming "Wi-Fi" adorning your establishment. I wish I could tell you that we were in the process of doing just the most awesome writeup we've given a newly discovered location in years.
Well, we aren't.
You see, in order for that to happen, there are certain other things that have to happen first. For one thing, we have to verify that you actually are offering wireless Internet access. The question of whether that access is free and open-and therefore eligible to be listed here-is, of course, still to be determined at that point.
That first step, however, can prove to be a bit daunting when it isn't even possible to discern which, if any, of the plethora of access points detectible on your premises is, in fact, yours. You do realize that the mere existence of an open network does not by itself constitute evidence that it is intended for use by others, don't you? Your signs merely say "Wi-Fi." They don't mention whether it's free, play-for-pay, open only to customers who obtain an access code from you, or just what. For all anyone knows, the pair of open APs with default SSIDs that were reported to us could belong to an unsuspecting apartment dweller or businessperson around the corner, and yours could be one of the encrypted ones.
As a first suggestion, why not try what we advised Latte Land to do at one of its Plaza locations, and what they are actually doing at the other-change the SSID on your router to something that will CLEARLY identify it as the one to which you intend your customers to connect? If I may be so bold, how about something like "Main Street Laundry?"
And if your Wi-Fi is free and open, why not tell everyone? Those signs in front could (ahem, ahem) use a little work.
On the other hand, if you do restrict access or if your network is play-for-pay, you really need to make that clear through signage and possibly some printed handouts. If people are coming in and inadvertently connecting to those open APs thinking they're yours, you conceivably could eventually be held accountable for aiding and abetting a crime. Can't have that, can we?
Feel free to leave a comment or e-mail me if you'd like to discuss this or have us check out the place again-which we'll be happy to do if it's free and open.
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