IT Professionals

Free Wi-Fi To Pass The Time

Posted by on May 20, 2009 | 10 Comments

There is definitely something to be said for legitimate free Wi-Fi. And when you are waiting at a medical center in between events, it can help to keep you sane during an otherwise long day.

Today my wife had to get surgery done on her wrist for carpal tunnel. The surgery itself is outpatient and generally routine, but it does mean a significant time investment for the day. This is where that free Wi-Fi comes into the mix.

Since I had my iPhone with me, I was able to get some work done and email checked along the way. And with my wife coming off of the anesthesia from the surgery, I was able to keep the time passing while she rested with the freely available Wi-Fi.

It’s funny; the simple things in life we take for granted. But with things being backed up with the patients before us, access to something faster than AT&T’s 3G was a welcome surprise.

What say you? Have you ever found Wi-Fi in a place that you had not expected it and ended up finding welcome relief from a lot of extra time to be passed? Hit the comments; share your own experiences.

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  • http://wp3.lockergnome.com/nexus/scribblepinch/ Robert Glen Fogarty

    Ouch, man! May she mend quickly! Sending healing thoughts her way.

  • AG

    I spent the day yesterday in a similar situation. My wife had a bone spur removed from her right hand thumb. She’s OK just drugged up to stop the pain.
    I was interested to see what applications were blocked by the surgery center’s wireless. Blocked applications and web sites included Google Chat, which stopped me from loading my iGoogle page, Yahoo chat, Itunes and Youtube.
    Ah well at least I could keep up with email from coworkers.

    AG

  • devonair

    I surprisingly found Wifi while boarding a bus in Mexico City. Sure… most would assume that I was picking up a signal from the terminal/station. But imagine my joy when I realized the signal was coming from the bus itself! I had a stable internet connection for the entire duration of my 3 hour bus ride through Mexico.

  • http://twitter.com/lrv94 Lee

    If I have to wait for something in a built up area where there is somewhere like a McDonalds or a Starbucks I use there wifi! It is everywhere nowadays.

    Also a huge get well soon ecard (in a message) to your wife! Hope she has a speedy recovery!

  • Miss Abbie Stabbie

    I once found free wifi at my Dentists, spent some time surfing there. Another place I found a service station on the A74(M).

    Protip: If you are at a station in the UK, look for National Express trains, they have free wifi. I spent some minutes surfing on my ipod from wifi on one of these trains waiting for the train to depart.

    If you are a bit more adventurous, you know those smaller stations National express makes passing stops at? Try connecting, logging on and sending a tweet while the train is in the station! :3

  • http://geeks.pirillo.com/profile/Zune80 Zune80

    I’m not lucky enough to find free Wi-Fi when I’m out and about. You’re lucky, I spent the better part of the last three years at hospitals dealing with my elderly parents whom I’ve recently lost. None of the hospitals they were in offered Wi-Fi at all let alone free to the public. It would have made my time there much more bearable during the wait periods.

    For all those that are lucky enough to have free access at places like this please always make a point to thank SOMEONE there for the access, and let them know you appreciate it. If they don’t know it matters to us they might not continue to offer it. If other businesses see that it helps pull in people they might start offering it as well.

  • http://www.BriefEpisode.com Gib Wallis

    I found free Wi-Fi at the Yogurt Stop, a frozen yogurt place in West Hollywood. They’re positioning themselves to compete with the internet cafes, which is very forward thinking.

  • http://www.cutesocialnetworking.com Kevin Kute

    It’s great that a lot of places offer Wi-fi now, for free. My only issue is those that offer the Wi-fi but don’t have any electrical outlets for you to plug your computer into. Kinda defeats the whole purpose of enjoying the experience.

  • http://geeks.pirillo.com/profile/BrianHanifin Brian Hanifin

    Wifi at the hospital where my son was born was fantastic. I had my father-in-law bring my laptop from home so I could update our family blog while I was in the hospital. I was able to keep my extended family updated daily, without having to make/receive dozens of calls every day. Gave me a chance to take care of my wife and son.

  • http://simulatedhumor.net Josh Wilson

    I can get free WiFi in a bizarre place: the gas station across the street from my on-campus dormitory. I can’t for the life of me figure out WHY they offer free WiFi, since they only have two small tables in the back of the store so people can eat food they ordered. I can’t see myself going over there just to use the connection, just because the school offers campus-wide WiFi to all students anyway. It just seems pointless to me, but who knows, maybe somebody uses it.