Power struggle
Our offices are under construction for the next few days. While most of our staff are working from home, I need to stay in touch with our contractors. So I've gone Bedouin, setting up my laptop in various coffee shops near the office.
The biggest challenge I've faced, by far, is accessing power. Wifi is either free or cheap, but finding a power outlet can be a major struggle. When I drop into a new place, I find myself immediately scouting out the tables with outlet access. And I get a little chapped when someone without a laptop is hogging the table next to the power.
Independent coffee shops, I've noticed, are more Bedouin-friendly than the chains. I've been in a few places that run power to every table--which is really how it should be done, carbon footprints be damned.
But what's surprising is that the chain stores have been so slow to catch on. A Starbucks that opened near my house about a year ago has three tables (of 10) with decent power. There's a new Second Cup where half the tables are equipped with outlets, making it relatively easy to get power when it's not busy. This particular spot has an unusual appeal for me: they don't have wifi set up yet, so that's where I go when I really need work.
Somewhat related: Here's a grainy shot of our in-progress renovations...
