or maybe they're trying to advertise a Wi-Fi hotspot so customers will come in and use it and look at the books while they're at it

I was just at BK and they had advertise a Wi-Fi hotspot, although I had to register before using it because they "want to make sure no one abuses the free service".

the local pizza place here has Free Wi-Fi. I'm not sure why but they do. although last time I went it didn't work so who knows

I wonder how the Starbucks cafes that share space with the B&N locations will react to this, considering they've had $10/day internet for quite a while now.

If it's a permanent change rather than a short-term promotional gimmick then it's a good one, though I'm sure it won't be long before people start taking advantage of it and we'll have to start dodging the internet squatters as well as the throngs of tweens and teens sprawled all over the floor near the graphic novels.

Cool. I still can't figure out why every B&N store from L.A., Denver, to Michigan all smell the same. Is it the carpet?

@SubzeroScientist: I'm pretty sure the Barnes and Noble cafes just have Starbucks coffee, but are not owned by Starbucks.

@SubzeroScientist:
Would the signal even travel that far?

Great News. I was never able to get connected using my Qwest DSL information. Since there is a B&N next to my work I hope I will be using it frequently.

And there is an iphone/itouch app to find those stores even when you are offline.

@sabor de soledad: I think it may depend. The B&N locations in my area are entirely Starbucks branded, accept Starbucks gift cards, etc. The one annexed to my preferred B&N store is actually completely separate from the bookstore itself and is open 24/7, while the bookstore closes at 10 pm.

I find it unlikely that Starbucks would allow someone to serve their coffee and blended drinks, sell their branded merchandise and coffee machines, wear their uniforms, and so on literally non-stop if they weren't actually affiliated with the company.

Of course, it could just vary by location.

@AppleAlex: Depends on how it's laid out, I suppose. In some locations here there's no real barrier or distance between the cafe and the bookstore, but in others the cafe is just to one side of the bookstore, rather than an annexed establishment that keeps its own hours and has its own locked doors.

In most locations here, unless the signal only works inside a 50 ft. radius, then yes, it will probably reach the cafe locations. I've certainly been able to pick up the pay internet from Starbucks in B&N.

@SubzeroScientist: Well I guess Starbucks is doomed

Finally! I was using my jailbroken iPhone to tether while at my local B&N, but the reception from inside the building (or intentional iPhone throttling from AT&T?) always made that solution spotty at best. Hopefully this is a permanent thing, as pretty much EVERY other coffee shop I go to has free wifi, even if it is with a purchase.

@SubzeroScientist: They're called licensed locations. Starbucks corporate doesn't run them at all.

@SubzeroScientist: In my brief stint as a B&N drone, I learned many things. One was to never, ever touch the magazines left in the mensroom at closing. Another was that the Starbucks cafe is part of the B&N store, and that my employee discount was 50% there and at all other store cafes everywhere in the world.

So, cafes are part of the B&N store itself (what chiieddy said..), and they make a "yuuuuuje" profit there.

And I can assure you, you've been sharing space with characters much more prone to hanging around a little too long than just tweens (See: magazines above).

NICE

@jamesdenver: apparently it's the magazines in the men's room [see veg-o-matic's comment above]

@SubzeroScientist: You're pretty much correct. While many (if not most) of the cafes are B&N owned, some Barnes and Noble locations have an actual, company owned Starbucks attached to them.

So now I can browse for books in Barnes and Noble, price compare to Amazon AND order from Amazon in Barnes and Noble from my laptop?

God has answered my prayers!

P.S. God, still waiting on that marriage proposal from Charlize Theron. No hurry, just get to it when you have the time.

@veg-o-matic: Hm, the moar u no. Interesting to note! I can understand that in stores where the cafe is fully integrated into the bookstore, but it's so weird thinking about it like that for the ones that are, effectively separate establishments that happen to have a door leading into the bookstore (just like the GameStop on the other side).

And oh yes, I know. There are things preventing me from becoming a bookstore employee. It's just that the most obtrusive ones on a day-to-day basis for me are the ones sprawled on the floor, who fling out a leg right as I walk by.

@alexcassidy: Okay, maybe that would be why one location here has the actual store next to it, and another has one that's inside, unseparated, and closes when the store does. :) I'm more familiar with the one that's annexed (tiny shopping center that goes Starbucks - B&N - Gamestop, with doors connecting the two side stores to the bookstore).

You'd think they would all be the same, but I guess not.

@AppleAlex: Or at least any kickbacks they get from network wireless providers may drop significantly. Which I'm fine with, because I hate paying AT&T anything (if that's who they still have).

@Keavy_Rain: Remember, God answers all your prayers. It's just that sometimes the answer is No (assuming you were looking for a Yes type answer).

As for that marriage proposal, I am waiting for one from Cameron Diaz, so maybe that's what's taking yours so long to arrive.

I downloaded the BN ebook software (Blackberry) and got 5 free ebooks. So far, the selection of books is not very good. I hope it will get better. Until then, Mobipocket is the way to go!

@sabor de soledad: The cafes are kind of like franchises. you have to follow all the starbucks policies.

we went into a massive cleaning frenzy before the guy came to our store (this was eons ago) to make sure it was all up to their standards.

and ditch the hershey's syrup, which is way better than starbucks' chocolate.

@SubzeroScientist:

B&N went with T-Mobil back in the early days of wi-fi when it looked like a pay as you go model was the direction everyone was going. Always wondered why they stayed with that system even though no one was using their wi-fi. There were many more free spots. Glad to see they broke away from that. One more free spot, when I travel, to check the emails.

Awesome! I've long wanted to be able to browse multiple stores while I'm in B&N. I usually end up buying from B&N anyway, but if I wanted to check BN.com and price it compared to the store, I can do it at faster speeds now!

This is great. I carry an Acer netbook with me (love the 2-lb powerhouse!) and normally look for Starbucks where I get free wifi with my SB Gold card. B&N is a much nicer place to hang out though. One of my favorite things is browsing books at the B&N and finding titles for later checkout from the public library. Now I can just directly log into my library account and put holds on the books I want, right from the bookstore. (But I will pay or the coffee!)

Yet another public plae where I can actually say I surf for porn

@geoffhazel: When you are offline?

@SubzeroScientist: Ahhhh.. the annexy-linky places are probably different. I was thinking only of the fully contained BN cafes whose employees are BN employees. So... nevermind!

I imagine one day soon Starbucks will jettison the paid intertubes.

@SubzeroScientist: Starbucks has had a program for at least a year, which allows you to use the AT&T service free of charge for an hour (or two? I forget) if you buy, register, and occasionally use a Starbucks card. They intend for you not to be able to do this in one visit, but it's only moderately painful to register a card over a Blackberry connection.

I hate gift cards and their ilk, but since I go to Starbucks sometimes anyway, this program actually represents a net benefit for me. Also, if you lose a registered card, it's very easy to get the remaining balance transferred or put on a new card.

So, will they block 4chan?

@Keavy_Rain: Amazon doesn't always have the best prices on books, just so you know. I picked up a book at B&N this weekend for $5.99 that Amazon wanted $19.16. My membership card knocks off at least 10% on top of the price, so it was less than six bucks with the sales tax I would have had to pay with Amazon as well.

Granted, their prices online and in store don't match up often, and the online store has fast 3 day shipping for free with orders over $25, but sometimes I need instant gratification I can't get with ordering online.

@SubzeroScientist: You may find it unlikely..but it happens all the time! If the cups or anything else say "Proudly Serving/Brewing" Starbucks Coffee, then it's not a real Starbucks.

@perro.malo:

Hey there, my name is Brian and I work for Qwest. I ran across your reply post, and would like to offer help with getting you connected to our free WiFi at participating Barnes & Noble locations.

If you would like my help, please send me an e-mail to TalkToUs@Qwest.com, put my name in the subject line, and I'll be happy to troubleshoot this with you. You should be able to get on, so it sounds like something is going wrong.

Thanks,

B
Consumer Affairs Manager
Qwest Communications
www.socialmedia.qwest.com