Today, the Wall Street Journal has an article on coffee shops that are “pulling the plug” on laptop users. Apparently people (and they’re blaming it on the unemployed) are getting their cheap, refillable cup of coffee and then hanging out for hours, using the free wi-fi. In return, coffee shops are instituting “no laptop” rules for specific hours, such as between 11 am – 2 pm, or after 8 pm. They are also locking the outlets so that laptop users can’t charge up.

But in New York, the trend is accelerating among independents. At Cocoa Bar locations in Brooklyn and on the Manhattan’s Lower East Side, a five-month-old rule forbids laptops after 8 on Friday and Saturday nights. At Espresso 77 in Jackson Heights, Queens, owners covered three of five electric outlets six months ago after its loosely enforced laptop-use restrictions failed to encourage turnover. At two of three Café Grumpy locations — one in Brooklyn and the other in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood — laptops are never welcome.

Now, as a freelance writer, I work from home. That means I often get lonely, so about once a week, I head to the Bean Haus in nearby Covington. Covington is one of those urban, trendy areas that are fun anyway, and the Bean Haus is a funky, independently owned place that makes my chai from pressing real tea leaves.

I will hang out at the Bean Haus for up to 4 hours at a time. After that, I feel rather like I’m imposing, although they certainly don’t make me feel that way. In my four hours, I will drink at least three, if not four, $4.38 large skim chai lattes. Why? I sort of see it as paying for the free wi-fi. I would never just sit there and nurse one drink for more than an hour. This sort of rule, although personal, seems polite. I’m plugged into their outlet, using their table (usually a window seat), and taking advantage of their free wi-fi. Bean Haus is my office away from my home office. I even hold meetings there occasionally, as they have a wonderful (and free) conference room.

The sandwich/bakery/coffee chain Panera, locally, has always had the no laptops between 11 – 2 pm rule. It makes sense; they have a lunch crowd. I won’t often work at Panera though, because I don’t feel comfortable turning my back on my laptop for a few minutes to order a new latte. At Bean Haus, I am perfectly comfortable with that.

Part of me wishes the WSJ hadn’t published that article. I certainly don’t want to give any of the awesome coffee shops around here any ideas. So freelancers, unemployed, and other office-free folks, I beg you. Don’t abuse your free outlets and wi-fi at the local coffee shop. Give them your business, not just your body taking up a seat.

Image Credit: mangpages, via CC license

__

Cheers!

Tweet Michelle @writetechnology, send her technology news at michelle[at]writetech[dot]net, visit her wine blog when you’re thirsty, and drop by her day job.

{ 2 comments }