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Mobile Users Plug-in Anywhere They Can
jasonla writes "The New York Times looks at mobile technology users who leech power from restaurant and airport outlets while on the road. The article looks at the habits and 'culture' of people who use portable devices -- such as laptops, iPods and cellphones -- and what the businesses think of power hungry customers." As interesting as the phenomena of customers leeching power from the businesses they frequent is the self-imposed etiquette of many users.
hmm...thats not a bad idea...perhaps they should make parking meeter style outlets for 25 cents a per half hour with a 2 hour limit...and 10 minutes and with a 30 minute limit in Manhatan. Quick someone patent that!
I think there is another important issue: safety. If your device short circuits the airport power network and then it takes 20 minutes before someone finds the circuit breaker then people are not going to be happy. And what if your device screws up someones laptop? (I know this is _really_ unlikely) The UK solution is that all electrical devices plugged in any sort of public socket (e.g. libraries) should be tested for safety, whenever they're more than one year old.
I'd imagine that airports have two or three different level of electricity grid one for the "totally essential" and one for all the shops adverts and Christmas trees.
As for the electricity bill: if I'm at the airport and everything is running on time then batteries in my laptop last long enough. If my flight gets delayed by 7 hours like it did the last time then I feel I have the right to use some electricity, for all the airport taxes I have paid. Even if that means unplugging some Christmas tree.
And if any employee of the airport wants to come and argue about this then he's welcome: I have 7 hours to spare and I'm pretty annoyed to begin with.
So what does that make Mc Choke 'n Puke then?
A drive-by window. When you see their window, just keep driving by.
KFG
Napkins, you limey bastard.
There's a friggin 24/7 coffee shop in MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN but I cannot find *any* here in the goddamn SILICON VALLEY. There is something seriously wrong with this picture. :P
"Heart of technology" my ass. This dump sucks. I'm going to Wisconsin!
I used to steal electricity.. at first it was just the occasional pocketful, but it soon escalated. Before I knew it I was running carloads of electricity across the border at a time, running a major smuggling operation and selling to some of the underworld's most shadowy consumers of electricity.. it's a slippery slope, I'd advise you to stay well clear
Curiosity was framed. Ignorance killed the cat.
You know, there are these things called 'books' that work without power I've heard...
Linux is not Windows