Many indie coffee cafes now restrict, or ban outright, the use of e-reading devices - Page 7

Penforhire · 02-13-2011, 04:19 PM

The answer is to go after the root problem not special cases like e-devices.

Coffee shops need a system that allows you "x" minutes at a table for "$y" in purchases. After that you can stay but a red light comes on, or some such, and anyone with a 'green light' (or token or whatever) can ask you to move when all seats are taken. Make it generous, say an hour for a cup of coffee, maybe with a warning period that allows you to re-buy. I suppose everyone has their own threshold for abuse but that's generous to me.

DixieGal · 02-13-2011, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by katewilly

5 Points South!

That's the one!

It is very friendly in there, don't you think? And I like Lucy's coffee there on Univ Blvd, but the shop is just a tad too dirty for me to be comfortable in. Do you work at UAB?

DixieGal · 02-13-2011, 04:30 PM

Let me ask you guys if you feel comfortable in Internet cafes? Because those really are creepy places.

Maggie Leung · 02-13-2011, 04:52 PM

Heck, it's just coffee. If one place doesn't suit, I'll go somewhere else.

I haven't been to an Internet cafe in ages. Used to go if I was traveling without my laptop and needed to do something online quickly. No need since I switched to a smart phone. Never felt uncomfortable, though some Net cafes were grungier than others.

CWatkinsNash · 02-13-2011, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DixieGal

Let me ask you guys if you feel comfortable in Internet cafes? Because those really are creepy places.

Haven't been to one. The closest was a coffee shop with a bank of computers on one wall. Someone did try to open an internet cafe here, but it's just so easy to find a place with internet AND food / beverages, that the internet cafe was a niche that didn't have a big enough market. If you start adding all the perks, then it's no longer an internet cafe - it's yet another coffee shop or deli with wifi and some computers to use. I don't know how long it stayed open, but I know it's gone.

Besides, on TV, people in internet cafes are always planning abductions, viewing porn, creating apocalyptic computer viruses or watching people being tortured live, so the idea doesn't get good PR.

So yes, I think they are creepy without ever being in one.

menevets · 02-13-2011, 05:59 PM

I've yet to find a NYC cafe that bans ereaders. I believe that there are, but not one was mentioned in the article. I've nary seen a sign. There was a WSJ article awhile back pretty much said the same thing sans French cafes bit.

And there was that big writeup in the NYT about the Brooklyn cafe which encouraged laptop nomads. What the heck are you supposed to believe?

I like Hefferman's column, but this one - needs some proof.

Andrew H. · 02-13-2011, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CleverClothe

Apparently you need a refresher course on what "luddite" means in the modern usage. Luddites are not opposed to all technology (if they were, they would be in the woods digging up roots with their bare hands and no clothes). Luddites are against new technology (and usually automated or computerized technology). If you ban ereaders and not paper books, you are indeed a luddite.

Well, technically luddites were opposed to the use of new technology in their factories.

But, again, these owners aren't *opposed* to e-readers or laptops (even assuming that they count as new technology). As I suggested, they probably use laptops themselves. They just don't want customers using them in their coffee shops. And presumably they aren't supporting books over e-readers; they have probably said nothing about books because people reading books aren't taking up their tables (and it has been a long time since I saw someone in a coffee shop reading an actual book, come to think of it).

menevets · 02-13-2011, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew H.

Well, technically luddites were opposed to the use of new technology in their factories.

But, again, these owners aren't *opposed* to e-readers or laptops (even assuming that they count as new technology). As I suggested, they probably use laptops themselves. They just don't want customers using them in their coffee shops. And presumably they aren't supporting books over e-readers; they have probably said nothing about books because people reading books aren't taking up their tables (and it has been a long time since I saw someone in a coffee shop reading an actual book, come to think of it).

I see books, newspapers, textbooks, physical papers being read in cafes all the time in NYC. I myself read a print book just this morning at a cafe. Of course electronic gadgets pervade, but print material isn't dead.

Andrew H. · 02-14-2011, 12:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by menevets

I see books, newspapers, textbooks, physical papers being read in cafes all the time in NYC. I myself read a print book just this morning at a cafe. Of course electronic gadgets pervade, but print material isn't dead.

Actually, I suppose I have seen textbooks and what looked like people doing homework. What I haven't seen are people reading novels or even nonfiction works for pleasure.

RockdaMan · 02-14-2011, 12:17 AM

Busy weekend, and I've fallen behind. I just want to say that going to McDonalds for a good cup of coffee is like going to Taco Bell for good mexican food.

NOTHING at McDonalds is good food. About the closest thing are their salads, and those are unnecessarily skimpy on the greens.

elcreative · 02-14-2011, 12:25 AM

Greens in a salad... bit avant garde...

Quote:

Originally Posted by RockdaMan

NOTHING at McDonalds is good food. About the closest thing are their salads, and those are unnecessarily skimpy on the greens.

SeaBookGuy · 02-14-2011, 12:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RockdaMan

NOTHING at McDonalds is good food. About the closest thing are their salads, and those are unnecessarily skimpy on the greens.

You obviously haven't tried the McGriddle breakfast sandwiches ... yum, yum, yum!

snipenekkid · 02-14-2011, 12:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RockdaMan

Busy weekend, and I've fallen behind. I just want to say that going to McDonalds for a good cup of coffee is like going to Taco Bell for good mexican food.

NOTHING at McDonalds is good food. About the closest thing are their salads, and those are unnecessarily skimpy on the greens.

No, nothing at MickeyD's is FOOD ya goof!!

Perhaps it is best called "food by products", you know like that Velveeta "cheese" really being a "cheese food product". Which I have always understood to mean it is what you are supposed to feed cheese to help it grow.

As for salads that is what you feed food, and never should be confused with real food either.

Lirael · 02-14-2011, 04:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Penforhire

The answer is to go after the root problem not special cases like e-devices.

I agree. It's not ebook readers or laptops that's the problem, it's seat-moochers. I don't get why they can't just declare that tables are for paying customers only, and ask you to move on if you've been there for six hours, the last thing you bought was a coffee five hours ago and they need the seats.

Seat-mooching was really common in my former place of residence - people would come to the cafe, not buy ANYTHING, and take up a table for hours and hours while they surfed the web, not seeming to realize that hey, a coffee shop is a BUSINESS and they're there to make $, not provide free internet for all.

jerrywojo · 02-14-2011, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DixieGal

Let me ask you guys if you feel comfortable in Internet cafes? Because those really are creepy places.

Haven't seen internet cafes in years. They all pretty much went away when wifi took hold. They are still quite popular in Asian countries like China though.

Had a few in my area. Lots of desktops and you had to pay by the hour!

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02-13-2011, 04:19 PM	#91
Penforhire Wizard Posts: 2,230 Karma: 7145404 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Southern California Device: Kindle Voyage & iPhone 7+	The answer is to go after the root problem not special cases like e-devices. Coffee shops need a system that allows you "x" minutes at a table for "$y" in purchases. After that you can stay but a red light comes on, or some such, and anyone with a 'green light' (or token or whatever) can ask you to move when all seats are taken. Make it generous, say an hour for a cup of coffee, maybe with a warning period that allows you to re-buy. I suppose everyone has their own threshold for abuse but that's generous to me.

02-13-2011, 04:30 PM	#93
DixieGal Hi There! Posts: 7,473 Karma: 2930523 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ft Lauderdale Device: iPad	Let me ask you guys if you feel comfortable in Internet cafes? Because those really are creepy places.

02-13-2011, 04:52 PM	#94
Maggie Leung Wizard Posts: 1,449 Karma: 58383 Join Date: Jul 2009 Device: Kindle, iPad	Heck, it's just coffee. If one place doesn't suit, I'll go somewhere else. I haven't been to an Internet cafe in ages. Used to go if I was traveling without my laptop and needed to do something online quickly. No need since I switched to a smart phone. Never felt uncomfortable, though some Net cafes were grungier than others.

02-13-2011, 05:59 PM	#96
menevets Connoisseur Posts: 88 Karma: 750010 Join Date: Nov 2009 Device: PRS-300/Kindle 4 basic/iPad/iPod Touch/iPhone/Nexus 7	I've yet to find a NYC cafe that bans ereaders. I believe that there are, but not one was mentioned in the article. I've nary seen a sign. There was a WSJ article awhile back pretty much said the same thing sans French cafes bit. And there was that big writeup in the NYT about the Brooklyn cafe which encouraged laptop nomads. What the heck are you supposed to believe? I like Hefferman's column, but this one - needs some proof.

02-14-2011, 12:17 AM	#100
RockdaMan Banned Posts: 1,644 Karma: 213512 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: On the other side of over there Device: Pandigital Novel, Kindle G1 (broken), iPod Touch	Busy weekend, and I've fallen behind. I just want to say that going to McDonalds for a good cup of coffee is like going to Taco Bell for good mexican food. NOTHING at McDonalds is good food. About the closest thing are their salads, and those are unnecessarily skimpy on the greens.