Many indie coffee cafes now restrict, or ban outright, the use of e-reading devices

[SeaBookGuy]

Originally Posted by jshzh

Is an E-book reader about reading? I don't know. I mostly read at home, never in a coffee shop. If not for the handy dictionaries, I would rather read a paper book in the subway. It is just me. I don't want people pay attention to my gadget and think I am reading a best-seller. There is nothing wrong with best-sellers. Another self-image issue.

I would rather read an e-book on the subway than a print copy consisting of several hundred pages.

Then again, I rarely go to coffee shops, especially with my (non-mac) computer.

[ardeegee]

Originally Posted by DixieGal

Darted iPad artokerekt

Damn you, autocorrect!

[elcreative]

Is this a US thing about Macs and coffee shops or SB?? I go to Coffee Republic 2 or 3 times a week and mostly see people with PC laptops and an occasional Mac is the rarity... and most of the computer users seem to be obnoxious salespeople with very loud voices and weird ringtones...

Originally Posted by SeaBookGuy

I would rather read an e-book on the subway than a print copy consisting of several hundred pages.

Then again, I rarely go to coffee shops, especially with my (non-mac) computer.

[RockdaMan]

Originally Posted by jshzh

I totally agree with you.

Indie coffee shops are not about drinking coffee,
Mac computers are not about working on a computer,
Iphones are not about making phone calls,
Facebook is not about connecting with friends!

They are identity-markers for a group of people of certain age, class...The whole point is to create the feeling of being different, important, and sought after.

You forgot to put sarcasm tags on your post.

(I dearly hope you're kidding)

[jshzh]

Originally Posted by elcreative

Is this a US thing about Macs and coffee shops or SB?? I go to Coffee Republic 2 or 3 times a week and mostly see people with PC laptops and an occasional Mac is the rarity... and most of the computer users seem to be obnoxious salespeople with very loud voices and weird ringtones...

My observation is Mac users tend to be the younger generation, students for instance, trendy, supposedly arty (Mac was good for graphic design, I was told), or alternative-want-to-be's -- they want to be different from dull business people with black IBMs with 3 year warranty.

In a graduate students' reading room in a Canadian university, I actually found 80% students using Mac, predominantly the white model. In the undergraduate population, one can see more netbooks and other cheaper brands.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by RockdaMan

You forgot to put sarcasm tags on your post.

(I dearly hope you're kidding)

No, he's not. And he's on target.

In a similar way that certain people use their cars or (condo) location as status symbols. Technology can and is used in the same way. Many smartphone owners don't have a clue as to how to use their phones other than to make a phone call and even that is difficult for some.

[jshzh]

Originally Posted by RockdaMan

You forgot to put sarcasm tags on your post.

(I dearly hope you're kidding)

No, I am kidding. Many business people themselves admit they are selling "the feeling" associated with using their products or service. They are proud of it. Actually it has never been a trade secret or conspiracy theory. It is hardcore marketing. You can find one clip on TED in which a speaker praised Starbucks's business model and the "brilliant" idea of selling the feeling. They have free wifi because they knew who were attracted to Starbucks.

Another good example is Moleskin notebooks. Look at their funny advertisement! I really don't want to be "creative"...

[Harmon]

Originally Posted by kennyc

I know that when my kids were small we ate at Taco Bell a LOT...it was the best bang for the buck. I assume it is the same for many.

Yep, it's a nice cheap fix of salt & grease, washed down by sweetened water. Now & then, a guy needs some junk food. A couple of my sons, both serious foodies, swear by some kind of cheap bean & cheese burrito they get at the Bell.

I get pseudotacos there now & then, but I must say I prefer Jack in the Box tacos. They seem to be deep fried in something I probably don't want to know about, and wind up kind of chewy rather than crunch. Sigh. Havn't had one in years. I may have lost my immunization by now...

The good people at Taco Bell NEVER complain about my reading my EBR whlie I finish off the second refill of the Gargantuan Cup.

[Harmon]

Originally Posted by RockdaMan

But nothing close to a good home cooked Mexican meal. And nothing close to one from a restaurant, which was my point. Not to slam Taco Bell, but to slam McDonalds coffee.

Nothing wrong with the basic McDonald's coffee. It's a perfectly straightforward cup of American style coffee. It's not the kind of coffee you "experience." It's hot stuff you drink with food, and it goes fine with anything involving carbohydrates.

As for the tacos, we are talking about Junk Food. You don't seriously think that they are "tacos" do you? The main problem with them is that they are hard to eat while reading, because they kind of crumble when you bite them. You don't have this issue with homecooked tacos, because your mother won't let you read at the table...

[Harmon]

[QUOTE=jshzh;1395339] Iphones are not about making phone calls,
/QUOTE]

Well. this part you got right. IPhones are about having an information device in my pocket. About the only time I make phone calls is when I'm trying to remember what I'm supposed to be buying at the store...

[Harmon]

Originally Posted by SeaBookGuy

I would rather read an e-book on the subway than a print copy consisting of several hundred pages.

Then again, I rarely go to coffee shops, especially with my (non-mac) computer.

Bought my wife a Kindle with a light cover for V Day. Her reaction - now I can read during intermissions at Met at the Movies.

[RockdaMan]

Originally Posted by jshzh

My observation is Mac users tend to be the younger generation, students for instance, trendy, supposedly arty

I find them to the be the same species of human that breathes air. That is, there is no one defining characteristic...they come from all different backgrounds.

[RockdaMan]

Originally Posted by Harmon

American style coffee.

No such thing, unless you're also including Maxwell House and Folgers and their ilk. In that case I would not say American style, but the 'almost tasteless' style.

Kinda like bottled ice tea when compared to fresh from the leaves tea.

Or Bud light.

[Harmon]

[QUOTE=jshzh;1395401]My observation is Mac users tend to be the younger generation, students for instance, trendy, supposedly arty (Mac was good for graphic design, I was told), or alternative-want-to-be's -- they want to be different from dull business people with black IBMs with 3 year warranty.
QUOTE]

Yep, that's me. Been using Macs since I was a mere youth of 43 and got my trendy Mac Plus. I used to haul it around to coffee shops and sit in the window seats, looking popular. Been a while since I've designed any graphics, but I can still punch in the ol' pixels when I need to.

And I enjoy being trendy & arty. My wife doesn't appreciate my black t-shirts, though. I tried to explain about being an Alternative Whatsis, but she did not grasp the concept. Something about "acting your age."

[Maggie Leung]

It seems there are three kinds of people in the world:

1. Apple trendsters
2. People fixated on Apple trendsters
3. The rest of us, who are normal

Lol