Really? nobody would use it? I count at least one - myself.
I'm even more adamant about using OOo now that I've tried Office2007 and spent fifteen minutes screaming at the f*cker trying to add "Page # of ##" to a document. I removed it after two weeks.
You know, even when betamax had the better recording quality, VHS still won out because it was easier to obtain. Widespread access inevitably makes a defacto standard.
Wait, a tic... 1 ton/m^2 =~ 1.3 lbs/in^2 --> So, you could dispurse a ton of sand over a 1 m^2 sheet of paper and it would just sit there happily? (considering the paper was adequately held at the sides OR not considering horizontal pull, and assuming a moderate 24 lbs/in^2 weight capacity sheet of paper) Hmm. sort of like a bed of nails concept.
That is precisely what I'm working with on my plans right now. I'm about 45 minutes north of Kansas City proper and I've found with bringing "big city" technology solutions to the small businesses in the area there's been a really positive response. Before, there were no such services in the area except the national "Geek" companies who charged more than the mom&pop's could afford and were booked up for two weeks on service calls anyway.
One of the unique aspects of the Kansas City area is that our commuting radius is larger than Chicago's so people are used to driving when they want to go somewhere. It's not uncommon for people to commute 60-80 minutes. We were also the first market to develop a metro calling area where the entire area code is a local call (less the farthest reaches). While my town is about 3k people, the neighboring cities are about 10k and 20k with a 40k city about 15 minutes beyond that (none of which have a gaming center OR net cafe, just libraries with restricted net access). Since people are accustomed to traveling here, we're in a unique situation where (unlike St. Louis) people are willing to go more than 5 miles for entertainment. With some effective area advertising I can rely on more than just walk-in foot traffic.
Watching other economic factors in my particular area, I've seen Sonic and Subway franchises open here, Walmart expand to a SuperCenter in the next town with Applebees and several other developments happenning within the past year so they're all recognizing growth in the area and demand for services aswell. You might use that as an litmus test for your area -- what other businesses are seeing potential for the area.
I thoroughly recommend a technology focus to anyone considering start-ups in developing small communities. And especially with the gaming cafe idea, kids out here can still get MTV and see the world screeching ahead, but they don't have access to the hip, trendy places most often found only in urban centers.
I've had this as a far off plan for my area for quite a while, but by running across this a few days ago I've found some pretty good advice. (Still digging through it actually) I'm even thinking of going after it before the end of the year now.
And since you're in the Chicago area and I'm in the Kansas City area where you wouldn't be competition, I thought I'd offer you this list of cafes to help in your research.
I've already established a succeeding computer repair and consulting operation so this is going to be an add-on to it in a city where there is nothing to do for entertainment except start smoking. (Or go out and ride a bike, but who does that anymore.) I'm also expecting training classes to be a popular use of the computers, maybe even a dedicated lab style room for that and business/copy,print use. Plus, having a projector in there means renting out the _room_and_equipment_ (reducing the legal issues of gaining public viewing licensing) for people to watch movies/tv events as another source of revenue.
What I'm seeing overall is not to focus on it being a business working to draw money out of people's pockets, but rather focus on building a social environment where people will continue to come back, be willing to freely spend their money, and bring other people to experience it. (of course, spend too much on decor that's not useful in bringing in anything to help pay for itself is no good either.)
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Really? nobody would use it? I count at least one - myself. I'm even more adamant about using OOo now that I've tried Office2007 and spent fifteen minutes screaming at the f*cker trying to add "Page # of ##" to a document. I removed it after two weeks.
You know, even when betamax had the better recording quality, VHS still won out because it was easier to obtain. Widespread access inevitably makes a defacto standard.
Wait, a tic... 1 ton/m^2 =~ 1.3 lbs/in^2 --> So, you could dispurse a ton of sand over a 1 m^2 sheet of paper and it would just sit there happily? (considering the paper was adequately held at the sides OR not considering horizontal pull, and assuming a moderate 24 lbs/in^2 weight capacity sheet of paper) Hmm. sort of like a bed of nails concept.
Teehee! look at the monkey :)
That is precisely what I'm working with on my plans right now. I'm about 45 minutes north of Kansas City proper and I've found with bringing "big city" technology solutions to the small businesses in the area there's been a really positive response. Before, there were no such services in the area except the national "Geek" companies who charged more than the mom&pop's could afford and were booked up for two weeks on service calls anyway.
One of the unique aspects of the Kansas City area is that our commuting radius is larger than Chicago's so people are used to driving when they want to go somewhere. It's not uncommon for people to commute 60-80 minutes. We were also the first market to develop a metro calling area where the entire area code is a local call (less the farthest reaches). While my town is about 3k people, the neighboring cities are about 10k and 20k with a 40k city about 15 minutes beyond that (none of which have a gaming center OR net cafe, just libraries with restricted net access). Since people are accustomed to traveling here, we're in a unique situation where (unlike St. Louis) people are willing to go more than 5 miles for entertainment. With some effective area advertising I can rely on more than just walk-in foot traffic.
Watching other economic factors in my particular area, I've seen Sonic and Subway franchises open here, Walmart expand to a SuperCenter in the next town with Applebees and several other developments happenning within the past year so they're all recognizing growth in the area and demand for services aswell. You might use that as an litmus test for your area -- what other businesses are seeing potential for the area.
I thoroughly recommend a technology focus to anyone considering start-ups in developing small communities. And especially with the gaming cafe idea, kids out here can still get MTV and see the world screeching ahead, but they don't have access to the hip, trendy places most often found only in urban centers.
I've had this as a far off plan for my area for quite a while, but by running across this a few days ago I've found some pretty good advice. (Still digging through it actually) I'm even thinking of going after it before the end of the year now.
And since you're in the Chicago area and I'm in the Kansas City area where you wouldn't be competition, I thought I'd offer you this list of cafes to help in your research.
I've already established a succeeding computer repair and consulting operation so this is going to be an add-on to it in a city where there is nothing to do for entertainment except start smoking. (Or go out and ride a bike, but who does that anymore.) I'm also expecting training classes to be a popular use of the computers, maybe even a dedicated lab style room for that and business/copy,print use. Plus, having a projector in there means renting out the _room_and_equipment_ (reducing the legal issues of gaining public viewing licensing) for people to watch movies/tv events as another source of revenue.
What I'm seeing overall is not to focus on it being a business working to draw money out of people's pockets, but rather focus on building a social environment where people will continue to come back, be willing to freely spend their money, and bring other people to experience it. (of course, spend too much on decor that's not useful in bringing in anything to help pay for itself is no good either.)
Best of luck.