« Caffe Bottega on Monday nights is where the girls are | Main | Aquarium offers enchanting look at life in Sound »
September 15, 2005
WiFi way to go when you're out and about
By JESSICA WAKEMAN
When you want to get ahead in the office — or even just stay afloat — you have to work from home. But everybody knows you can't concentrate with a remote control within arms reach. This is must be why wireless Internet access was invented.
Wireless Internet access, or WiFi, as it's called, connects you to the Internet from your laptop and allows you to work wherever it's available.
Most newer computers already come equipped with wireless cards. Both the Dell that I bought two years ago and the Apple that I bought a month ago were equipped with WiFi. And for $40 to $100, wireless cards can be purchased for older computers.
Once you are in a WiFi "hotspot," just turn on your laptop, agree to connect to the available network, either for free (in most places) or for a fee (in T-Mobile hotspots, such as Borders bookstores and Starbucks coffeehouses). It might sound complicated to the uninitiated, but it's actually idiot-proof. The hardest part will be not spilling your cappuccino across the keyboard (hence my purchase of computer No. 2). Wireless Internet access hotspots are popping up all over the place — cafes, restaurants, even at some McDonald's. Here are some places in southern Fairfield County where you can get out and still have Internet access: BRIDGEPORT Rainy Faye, a bookstore and coffeehouse at 940 Broad St., has free WiFi because "it just makes sense," said owner Georgia Day. The store is around the corner from Housatonic Community College and not far from the University of Bridgeport. Sounds like a conveniently located place to get some paper-writing done.
FAIRFIELD
Both the Borders Books at 1499 Post Road and the Starbucks at 2171 Black Rock Turnpike have WiFi but require paying to hook up with T-Mobile. It costs $9.99 for a 24-hour day pass, an annual plan goes for $29.99 per month, or a monthly plan for $39.99. (Other Starbucks locations with T-Mobile WiFi include 88 Park St. in New Canaan, 815 Post Road in Darien, 538 Boston Post Road in Orange and 19 Post Road East in Westport, among others.)
Also in Fairfield is P. Gordon Coffee Roasters, at 1940 Post Road, where the WiFi is free. No comfy couches like you might find at other coffee shops — but if you need to hunker down and concentrate on your work while downing shots of espresso, why not do it for free?
Free WiFi can also be found at Sidetracks Restaurant at 2070 Post Road, which manager Peter Moeller said is popular with businessmen who use it at the bar. I'm not sure how well alcohol and typing mixes, but then again, I've never tried.
NORWALK
Coffee shop and chocolate lounge SoNo Caffeine at 138 Washington St. also has free WiFi. The atmosphere is a lot jazzier, with plenty of couches and an exposed brick wall. This dimly lit coffeeshop — complete with lava lamp and disco ball — is by far the hippest of all the places with free wireless Internet access. Plus, every piece of furniture in SoNo Caffeine is for sale. There are numerous venues elsewhere with WiFi — just ask. And there are as many places that give it to you free as those that charge you. Just call ahead and ask — you shouldn't have to pay unless you want to.
Posted by connpost on September 15, 2005 8:22 AM
