Wireless accounts?

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ThinkPad · #1 Post by **ThinkPad** » Tue Apr 25, 2006 10:33 pm

Does anyone have a wireless internet account for hot spots. Im sitting here in Barnes and Noble and had to pay $4 to connect for 2 hours. Its connected through ATT and they offer memebership packages for abour $20 a month, with various hot-spots. Not sure if its worth it though.

JHEM · #2 Post by **JHEM** » Tue Apr 25, 2006 11:17 pm

Thinkpad wrote:Does anyone have a wireless internet account for hot spots.

I have a T-Mobile account for those times when it's impossible to sniff out a free WAP.

http://hotspot.t-mobile.com/

$29 a month IIRC.

Regards,

James

epbrown · #3 Post by **epbrown** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 5:27 am

I've got the t-mobile account as well. If you're logging in more than a few times a month, it's worth it to go all out and get the monthly plan. An alternative is to sniff out those places that offer free wi-fi, which is usually mom & pop style business.

However, near me is a Starbucks that's open 24-hours. It's near a DePaul University, so it always has a lot of students hanging around, and student being perpetually broke, what they do is set up a VPN on someone that's paying and then everyone links through that person for a small fee. That seems to be spreading - I've had a few people come up to me at *$ and ask if I'd be willing to let them hitch on my connection.

What I do now is use Verizon's Broadband Access. Pricey at $60/month, but the convenience and speed are worth it

JHEM · #4 Post by **JHEM** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 7:58 am

Good to "see" you Emanuel!

Anything new in the garage?

Now that the kids are so widely spread out across the US, Dr. E wants a MB 500 for making road trips. I'm still holding out for a Quattroporte!

Regards,

James

#5 Post by **jdhurst** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 8:45 am

I have a Sony-Ericsson card with the related account ($75 per month). Modest speed (100K) but works anywhere my phone works (and that is NOT true for hotspots). It is reasonably necessary for my business, but I don't think I would do it personally.

To have a Hotspot account is another $30 or so per month with limited applicability in my view (not enough of them). So I don't bother with this.
... JD Hurst

JHEM · #6 Post by **JHEM** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 8:58 am

jdhurst wrote:To have a Hotspot account is another $30 or so per month with limited applicability in my view (not enough of them). So I don't bother with this.

I guess that's a big regional difference John, T-Mobile hot spots are ubiquitous here in the lower 48.

"T-Mobile HotSpot offers thousands of locations nationwide in places you already go like Starbucks coffeehouses, Borders Books & Music stores, FedEx Kinko's Office and Print Centers, select Hyatt Hotels & Resorts, airports, and the airline clubs of American, Delta, United, and US Airways."

https://selfcare.hotspot.t-mobile.com/l ... nDomain.do

I've also had good service with them in EU through their partners, although there's hidden fees with some of them.

Regards,

James

#7 Post by **jdhurst** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 9:16 am

We don't yet have T-Mobile-type service here (that I know of). Telus offers a service that is "the same" but nowhere near as widely spread. There is talk of blanket the City (core Toronto) with "free" wireless. It's just talk at this point.

With respect to cellular wireless, there are lots of place (outside the cities and towns) where Hotspot service likely won't exist. That's why I keep the cellular wireless, at least right now.
... JD Hurst

epbrown · #8 Post by **epbrown** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 10:43 am

JHEM wrote:Good to "see" you Emanuel!

Anything new in the garage?

Now that the kids are so widely spread out across the US, Dr. E wants a MB 500 for making road trips. I'm still holding out for a Quattroporte!

Regards,

James

Hey, James! Nope, still got the two Bimmers. Just relishing the arrival of spring in Chicago, which means I can finally start driving the ragtop. Funny you should mention the Q-porte, though; I've been eyeing the Cambiocorsa lately. Maserati's making some beautiful cars right now. And with Mercedes' current reputation for reliability, you can really put the Italians down anymore

epbrown · #9 Post by **epbrown** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 10:45 am

jdhurst wrote:We don't yet have T-Mobile-type service here (that I know of). Telus offers a service that is "the same" but nowhere near as widely spread. There is talk of blanket the City (core Toronto) with "free" wireless. It's just talk at this point.

With respect to cellular wireless, there are lots of place (outside the cities and towns) where Hotspot service likely won't exist. That's why I keep the cellular wireless, at least right now.
... JD Hurst

Chicago has had similar talk of city-wide wireless, but I doubt it will go anywhere - it just makes a good sound-bite.

JHEM · #10 Post by **JHEM** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 11:01 am

jdhurst wrote:We don't yet have T-Mobile-type service here (that I know of). Telus offers a service that is "the same" but nowhere near as widely spread. There is talk of blanket the City (core Toronto) with "free" wireless. It's just talk at this point.

There's been a lot of discussion about the same subject here in the Philadelphia area with the local government ultimately providing free city-wide WiFi access. Right now it's tied up in the courts after the local Broadband providers (Comcast, Verizon, etc.) sued for "restraint of trade" and "unfair competition".

jdhurst wrote:With respect to cellular wireless, there are lots of place (outside the cities and towns) where Hotspot service likely won't exist. That's why I keep the cellular wireless, at least right now.

Sounds like a good plan. I've only ever been able to access T-Mobile while at the airports in CA.

https://selfcare.hotspot.t-mobile.com/l ... country=CA

Regards,

James

JHEM · #11 Post by **JHEM** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 11:15 am

epbrown wrote:Nope, still got the two Bimmers. Just relishing the arrival of spring in Chicago, which means I can finally start driving the ragtop. Funny you should mention the Q-porte, though; I've been eyeing the Cambiocorsa lately. Maserati's making some beautiful cars right now. And with Mercedes' current reputation for reliability, you can really put the Italians down anymore

No more Porsches at ALL??? For a while there I thought you were out to corner the market!

Always enjoyed receiving reports from my daughter that she'd perhaps seen you in the white Roller somwhere around town.

I know you meant to say "can't put the Italians down" anymore. No more "Fix It Again Tony" nowadays.

Regards,

James

christopher_wolf · #12 Post by **christopher_wolf** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 11:37 am

JHEM wrote:
epbrown wrote:Nope, still got the two Bimmers. Just relishing the arrival of spring in Chicago, which means I can finally start driving the ragtop. Funny you should mention the Q-porte, though; I've been eyeing the Cambiocorsa lately. Maserati's making some beautiful cars right now. And with Mercedes' current reputation for reliability, you can really put the Italians down anymore
No more Porsches at ALL??? For a while there I thought you were out to corner the market!

Always enjoyed receiving reports from my daughter that she'd perhaps seen you in the white Roller somwhere around town.

I know you meant to say "can't put the Italians down" anymore. No more "Fix It Again Tony" nowadays.

Regards,

James

NO MORE PORSCHES?! Never

And yes, it somehow seems that Benz and Company have been getting some really problematic things happening with their vehicles. Transmission failures (Which my Uncle has been through with his E500, *twice*) and service degredation; but hey, I am not to picky about any of this...Least of all to the point of turning down an SL500 or SL600 AMG.

I still would like a 911 Turbo, though.

ThinkPad · #13 Post by **ThinkPad** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 12:23 pm

epbrown wrote:However, near me is a Starbucks that's open 24-hours. It's near a DePaul University, so it always has a lot of students hanging around, and student being perpetually broke, what they do is set up a VPN on someone that's paying and then everyone links through that person for a small fee.

I was actually at the Barnes & Noble in Depaul University. Im not a student there, but the environment is nice

epbrown · #14 Post by **epbrown** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 11:37 pm

JHEM wrote:No more Porsches at ALL??? For a while there I thought you were out to corner the market!

Always enjoyed receiving reports from my daughter that she'd perhaps seen you in the white Roller somwhere around town.

I know you meant to say "can't put the Italians down" anymore. No more "Fix It Again Tony" nowadays.

Regards,

James

You're right, I meant can't. As for Porsches, while I like the new Cayman, I'm enjoying the roadster experience with the Z4 (I never cared for the Boxster - too bland looking, too pricey for what you get).

What I plan to do eventually is sell my 3-series and get another Rolls-Royce in a few years, then upgrade my Z4 to one of the newer models with the faster engines. BMW has announced a 3.5L turbo engine their putting in the new 3-series coupe, and if they install that puppy in the Z4, I'm set.

epbrown

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