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iPad at starbucks. how to use wifi...

Other than obviously not checking financial accounts and stuff at public wi-fi hotspots, what are some other things you shouldn't do? I'd imagine I should never enter my e-mail login and password, but I imagine it is safe if it is already saved in the browser. Is this right?

Any other things to be aware of? I've always been very hesitant about using public wi-fi because I don't know what is possible for hackers to steal.

Thanks.
 
Can anyone who actually gets on the net at places like Starbucks or McD's... just why do you do this? Do you actually go just to get on the net? If so, why not just stay at home or get on at school?


I am confused why anyone would go places like these just to get online.
 
nStyle said:
Can anyone who actually gets on the net at places like Starbucks or McD's... just why do you do this? Do you actually go just to get on the net? If so, why not just stay at home or get on at school?


I am confused why anyone would go places like these just to get online.
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I work from home, so it gives me a place to go where I can enjoy a beverage and get some work done while being around people. Sometimes I go just to chill out, sometimes I go because it's in between places I need to go to and I need to kill some time.

Also, I'm guessing some people may not have internet at home and get their fix there. Hell, I've seen homeless guys whip out a laptop from their stuff and go online for a while......
 
Aranince said:
Last time I checked, they gave free wifi to iPhone users. No ipad?
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iPhone users get free WiFi at Starbucks (and other AT&T WiFi hotspots) because iPhones have a monthly AT&T account. For the same thing to apply to an iPad, the device must have a monthly AT&T account. In other words, it must be an iPad 3G.

As multiple people have mentioned, there are other ways to get free WiFi at Starbucks and other businesses give free WiFi all the time. But I find myself in FAR more locations that don't have ANY WFi, let alone free WiFi. I don't want my destination decision based upon finding a place that has WiFi (free or otherwise). Thus, the iPad 3G is the only one that makes sense for me.

Mark
 
yeah i've also passed the two hour limit at starbucks. One time it registered me as being logged in for 5 hours :eek: i'm thinking the two hour limit is just to scare you into thinking your time's up ;)
 
I used my 64GB iPad at Starbucks this morning. With the free account that comes with your card, logging in and surfing is a breeze. Had no problems at all getting online and reading the news over a cup of joe. Three other patrons asked me about the iPad.

With a iPhone 3GS in my pocket, a 3G iPad is unnecessarily redundant. Wi-fi only is plenty for me.
 
Surely said:
Yeah man.... totally...... blah......:rolleyes:

The internet at Starbucks is free..... how hard do you find it to register a card and use it to buy the drink that you are supposed to buy while you sit there.

Starbucks coffee is quite good, depending on what you order. Their espresso drinks are made well and are consistent from store to store because of the uniform training their baristas receive. Their iced teas are also very good. I haven't found a place that has a better iced coffee than Starbucks.
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What part of "free" do they not understand? How many times do they have to be told to get a "free" starbucks card, put 10 or 20 dollars on it, register the card (for free access) and use the card to buy whatever....... This has been repeated on other threads. Its like AHHHHHHH. Help me, I'm drowning:(
 
I'm pretty sure that if you have an iPhone on ATT you get free WiFi at Starbucks, PERIOD. Not just on your iPhone. In other words, you could go into Starbucks with your notebook and still use free WiFi.

I'm unfamiliar with the signon procedure, because the only times I've done this have been on my iPhone and using the Easy WiFi for AT&T app.

Has anybody tried Easy WiFi on the iPad? You need to plug-in your AT&T iPhone number. Oh, maybe not... I seem to recall that the way this works without the app is that you text some number, then they send you a code via text message and you have to plug in the code on the login screen at Starbucks. Easy WiFi just automates sending and receiving the text messages, and then logging-in to the WiFi node.

OK, so do it the hard way: you'll probably have your iPhone in your pocket anyway. So, you send the text, get the reply, and you enter the code ON YOUR IPAD rather than on the iPhone.

Edit: you don't enter your phone number in Easy WiFi. It's already entered for you, guess it gets it from the phone. So, that way is out.

The AT&T web page for WiFi Access says this:

"Users with a Wi-Fi compatible device, a qualifying AT&T data plan and an active account in good standing can relax and access music, email, and Web browsing services with their favorite blend in hand from the comfort of their nearest location."

If you have an iPhone on ATT with the iPhone data plan, you have a qualifiying AT&T data plan. An iPad is a Wi-Fi compatible device, so I think you are good to go. Nothing there that says you have to use your iPhone to access the WiFi.
 
jtara said:
I'm unfamiliar with the signon procedure, because the only times I've done this have been on my iPhone and using the Easy WiFi for AT&T app.

Has anybody tried Easy WiFi on the iPad? You need to plug-in your AT&T iPhone number. Oh, maybe not... I seem to recall that the way this works without the app is that you text some number, then they send you a code via text message and you have to plug in the code on the login screen at Starbucks. Easy WiFi just automates sending and receiving the text messages, and then logging-in to the WiFi node.
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AT&T used to use texts to confirm your number but Easy WiFi didn't use texts to connect. Instead it just stored your number and logged you on (much like OS 3.x now does). It was useful because you didnt have to deal with AT&T's sign on procedure or the annoyance of checking for a text. It was very convenient before OS 3.x, however, now that 3.x does the same thing to log you in, there's no use for it on an iPhone.

I haven't tried it yet but I have it set up on my iPad with my iPhone's #. I'm pretty confident it will still work to connect to an AT&T hotspot. It would be cool if someone that's tried it reports back!
 
musicman0725 said:
AT&T used to use texts to confirm your number but Easy WiFi didn't use texts to connect. Instead it just stored your number and logged you on (much like OS 3.x now does). It was useful because you didnt have to deal with AT&T's sign on procedure or the annoyance of checking for a text. It was very convenient before OS 3.x, however, now that 3.x does the same thing to log you in, there's no use for it on an iPhone.

I haven't tried it yet but I have it set up on my iPad with my iPhone's #. I'm pretty confident it will still work to connect to an AT&T hotspot. It would be cool if someone that's tried it reports back!
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I tried and it didn't work that way. The only way to get online is via the registered Starbucks card route.
 
Yep, 2 hour limit is not enforced at my Starbucks. Lots of kids study there for longer than 2 hours.

50 cent refills on coffee and ice tea. If you have a gold/black card those refills are free.
 
ks-man said:
Other than obviously not checking financial accounts and stuff at public wi-fi hotspots, what are some other things you shouldn't do? I'd imagine I should never enter my e-mail login and password, but I imagine it is safe if it is already saved in the browser. Is this right?

Any other things to be aware of? I've always been very hesitant about using public wi-fi because I don't know what is possible for hackers to steal.

Thanks.
Click to expand...

Try to limit how much porn you watch...
 
you are their costumer and you must have the privelage to use their wifi..lolz.

awts..go to nearby coffee shop next time:D
 
mediaseo said:
you are their costumer and you must have the privelage to use their wifi..lolz.

awts..go to nearby coffee shop next time:D
Click to expand...

Why shouldn't there be restrictions on their wifi? What would stop people from going in there, not buying anything, and using their internet all day?

Believe me, the last thing one of the employees want to do is go up to someone and ask them to leave because they didn't actually buy anything. They don't get paid enough to care about that.

People go in to Starbucks and loiter enough as it is, but not as much as they would if their internet was restriction-free. You think it's hard to get a seat now (at least to the ones I go to), imagine how bad it would be if you didn't require a sign in.......
 
Try www.boingo.com, $9.99 unlimited wi-fi works at all Starbucks, Wayport, Marriott, Mcdonalds, Hilton, and tons of other hotel chains. It also works at most airports, and convention centers! By far, they have the most amazing network I have seen, and the price is right! I originally signed up at Chicago O'Hare and have been a member ever since.
 
Surely said:
Why shouldn't there be restrictions on their wifi? What would stop people from going in there, not buying anything, and using their internet all day?

Believe me, the last thing one of the employees want to do is go up to someone and ask them to leave because they didn't actually buy anything. They don't get paid enough to care about that.

People go in to Starbucks and loiter enough as it is, but not as much as they would if their internet was restriction-free. You think it's hard to get a seat now (at least to the ones I go to), imagine how bad it would be if you didn't require a sign in.......
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I know. The coffee shops that have free wi-fi around here are usually completely filled with people who have been on their laptop for several hours, and only bought one cup of coffee...
 
As a registered Starbucks card holder, I picked the AT&T hotspot and login. Meanwhile, my Qwest DSL also offers free wifi which I can use.
 
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