Team Blog

v-Fluence Blog

03/27/2008

Posted by Ande Leslie.

Ahh, warmer temperatures, sunny afternoons, rain showers, and tulips.

After a long, snowy winter in Chicago and the imminent, though not approach fast enough spring, I've been anxious to get out of my home office and work in a more social environment. As you might expect, one of the necessary tools for working outside my office is wireless Internet access.

And, with eight months of working for v-Fluence under my belt, I've become what some might term a "Wi-Fi ninja."

Wi-Fi ninja [wai-fai nin-juh] - n. a member of an underground 21st century society, highly trained in identifying and ranking wireless Internet access locations, based on a variety of methods meant to encourage productivity and minimize frustration.

Through my experiences of looking for and checking out mostly free, Wi-Fi locations within walking distance of my Lincoln Park apartment, I've come up with a list of preferences, must-haves and can't stands that any telecommuter, or possibly a fellow Wi-Fi Ninja, would find helpful when assessing new, uncharted Wi-Fi territory.

For me, these forays into unknown Wi-Fi locations are more like missions-I do a bit of recon, look for essentials that will ensure I can be comfortable and productive and, then, settle in and get to work. Here's my list:

Costs - Wi-Fi locations are becoming more widespread and an important characteristic for consumers on the move. Not only are coffee shops, libraries, and fast-food restaurants adopting the convenient technology, but so are airports, [hospitals], and even entire cities! Not all Wi-Fi access points are free (or cheap) though, and this is an important, decisive factor when I choose my flexible work setting. Hint: Whenever the sign says "Wi-Fi Access," it's best to ask how much it might cost because, chances are, it will.
Friendliness - I've been to a few Wi-Fi spots that left me feeling unwanted and uncomfortable, and I have yet to return. While I'm not looking for "social" interaction, it's nice to be around friendly and helpful employees, as well as fellow customers. It's much more pleasant to see smiles than scowls when it's time to leave my home office find a more social spot to work. Why get out if it's not a good experience?
Power - My biggest pet peeve about Wi-Fi locations is an insufficient number of electrical outlets. It's important to consider whether or not the space has enough outlets (and tables) to accommodate the other laptops in the area. Have you ever been to a Panera with 22 AC adaptors and only five electrical outlets during college final exams week? It gets dangerous, even for a WiFi Ninja!
Atmosphere - Personally, I prefer public Wi-Fi spots that include subtle music, some human activity, natural light and at least some interesting décor. Another hint: Any place that sticks out from the cookie-cutter conditions that chain coffee shops tend to offer should get extra consideration. My new favorite Wi-Fi spot is Noble Tree Coffee & Tea. This old house turned coffee shop features three floors (three!) of free Wi-Fi, fireplaces, and wing backed chairs.
Foodstuff - Since even ninjas need energy to maintain their stealth moves, I like to choose hotspots that offer snacks, sandwiches, and rocket fuel (a.k.a., coffee). I really hate when I have to pack up my stuff, risk losing my seat (and power source!), to go grab a bite to eat down the street. (I should note that item 2 can make up for a lack of food, if there's someone close who might keep an eye on my laptop while I'm out.)