I agree with Volker as to the primary usefulness of McDonalds :-) Trickle down has proved useless in the economy, maybe it can work in this context. Its true that giving people more reason to buy a wifi capable lappie/pda will increase demand for access points etc.
Its just that for me starbucks and mcd's seem to be the antithesis of what the free/open software movement is all about. A community effort does not need a lot of funding, just for people to buy a wifi card and a decent aerial, point it out onto the street, and share their internet access! On Thu, 19 Feb 2004 21:39:43+1300 Don Gould<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > From: Nick Rout [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > (Don, fix ya reply-to!) > > I'm not sure how I set a different reply to in Outlook 2000... > > When we have an install fest I plan to convert this machine to being > dual boot and migrate everything over to linux. > > At present I'm just trying to get things done and just using the tools > I know best. > > > Don Gould <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > http://australianit.news.com.au/articles/0,7204,8730381%5E15318%5E%5Enbv%5E, > 00.html > > > > > > This is fantastic news in Australia. It's time we lobby for > > > McDonalds to do the same thing in New Zealand. > > > > > > This would draw so many asian uni students with flash laptops in > > > to McDonalds wouldn't it?! :) > > > > the benefit being? > > Ok I'll bite... > > It's a trikle down thing... > > Stage 1 - McDonalds creates a market (actaully Starbucks already did > that but they're hardly big enough to blip the radar in Christchurch). > > Stage 2 - People get wifi gear because they now have a place to use it > that they like to visit (even if that doesn't include everyone's > favouriate Nick:) > > Stage 3 - Competitors see a business opportunity they perceive they're > missing out on... > > Consider these comments from a mate in Sydney... > > "On the wifi front, there is a pub near where I'm working with free > wifi though these guys www.pubnet.com.au > It's a cool idea, put free wifi in your pub/caf� to keep people in > there during the day. It's costing very little, a $49 a month > unlimited comindico 256k connection and a dlink router. It's working > too, every afternoon there is someone there sitting around using it > and having a few drinks while they do." > > > > Think about it everyone. > > > > sorry i can't get into that. > > > > 1. hate mcdonalds > > Sure.... and after the feed my wife had tonight, so does she (so > you're in fine company), I ate Indian (much hotter and much nicer :) > > > 2. hate using my lappie with greasy fingers > > You also don't fit into the stereo typical group that I suggested > would use this service in Riccarton and the city. > > > 3. don't see the joy in getting more people into mcdonalds > > I'd prefer to see more kids in McD's creating more part time jobs for > kids at McD's than I'd like to see hanging around in the center of the > city sniffing nitricoxide canisters. > > > 4. prefer to see free community based access a la NYC > > Wireless, Seattle > > Wireless, etc. > > Wouldn't we all... I'm working on that problem as well... You ever > tired getting funding for a community project? The research alone is > a killer. :) > > > > wifi access points yes, associated with american cultural > > imperialists no! community access, yes. > > :) > > When do we start those red army drills Nick? ;) > > Cheers Don >
