Comments on: Supersize Wi-Fi with your McDonald’s burger? http://uk.techcrunch.com/2007/10/08/supersize-wi-fi-with-your-mcdonalds-burger/ Tracking the UK's mobile and web start-up ecosystem. Sat, 10 Jan 2009 04:31:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: Nic Fletcher http://uk.techcrunch.com/2007/10/08/supersize-wi-fi-with-your-mcdonalds-burger/#comment-43748 Nic Fletcher Thu, 11 Oct 2007 17:06:21 +0000 http://uk.techcrunch.com/2007/10/08/supersize-wi-fi-with-your-mcdonalds-burger/#comment-43748 Guys... how elitist and snobbish can you get? This is all about market forces - nothing more. And although I respect the author, I do dislike the comment about opening laptops in front of McDonald's hordes or their customers not having WiFi phones. Have you never eaten in a McDonald's? Does your phone not have WiFi? And it only take a moment on my N95 to login on my browser (and then I have Truphone as well). But my main point... why all this anti-Starbucks stuff? You don't have to drink in Starbucks... it's a free world. I pay £10 a month for unlimited T-Mobile WiFi per month (I acknowledge that is discounted as I am T-Mobile mobile customer as well). It also gives me Manchester airport. So now, when working for home, I can drink good coffee, listen to some good music, and get a break from my home in a local Starbucks. All for £10 a month. Not £5 per hour. When Starbucks make poor coffee, play poor music, don't have a nice atmosphere, then maybe I'll go to McDonald's to work instead! Guys… how elitist and snobbish can you get? This is all about market forces - nothing more. And although I respect the author, I do dislike the comment about opening laptops in front of McDonald’s hordes or their customers not having WiFi phones. Have you never eaten in a McDonald’s? Does your phone not have WiFi? And it only take a moment on my N95 to login on my browser (and then I have Truphone as well).

But my main point… why all this anti-Starbucks stuff? You don’t have to drink in Starbucks… it’s a free world. I pay £10 a month for unlimited T-Mobile WiFi per month (I acknowledge that is discounted as I am T-Mobile mobile customer as well). It also gives me Manchester airport. So now, when working for home, I can drink good coffee, listen to some good music, and get a break from my home in a local Starbucks. All for £10 a month. Not £5 per hour. When Starbucks make poor coffee, play poor music, don’t have a nice atmosphere, then maybe I’ll go to McDonald’s to work instead!

]]> By: Ivan Pope http://uk.techcrunch.com/2007/10/08/supersize-wi-fi-with-your-mcdonalds-burger/#comment-43696 Ivan Pope Thu, 11 Oct 2007 14:05:18 +0000 http://uk.techcrunch.com/2007/10/08/supersize-wi-fi-with-your-mcdonalds-burger/#comment-43696 I think a more pertinent comment here would be - let's hope this drives Starbucks out of their preposterous '£5 to use wifi while you drink our preposterously expensive coffee' and into the free wifi camp ... I think a more pertinent comment here would be - let’s hope this drives Starbucks out of their preposterous ‘£5 to use wifi while you drink our preposterously expensive coffee’ and into the free wifi camp …

]]> By: Hermatic Fanatic http://uk.techcrunch.com/2007/10/08/supersize-wi-fi-with-your-mcdonalds-burger/#comment-43648 Hermatic Fanatic Thu, 11 Oct 2007 08:41:34 +0000 http://uk.techcrunch.com/2007/10/08/supersize-wi-fi-with-your-mcdonalds-burger/#comment-43648 Mc.Donalds, Ooohhh God No !!!! Muck Bollock's.... Card Chip's, and 100% Horse Burger thinner than a five years olds.... Mc.Donalds, Ooohhh God No !!!!

Muck Bollock’s…. Card Chip’s, and 100% Horse Burger thinner than a five years olds….

]]> By: Dan http://uk.techcrunch.com/2007/10/08/supersize-wi-fi-with-your-mcdonalds-burger/#comment-43444 Dan Tue, 09 Oct 2007 19:27:39 +0000 http://uk.techcrunch.com/2007/10/08/supersize-wi-fi-with-your-mcdonalds-burger/#comment-43444 Which leaves you with the prospect of opening your expensive laptop in front of the McDonald’s hordes. Good humor. Dan Which leaves you with the prospect of opening your expensive laptop in front of the McDonald’s hordes.

Good humor.

Dan

]]> By: Steve Bowbrick http://uk.techcrunch.com/2007/10/08/supersize-wi-fi-with-your-mcdonalds-burger/#comment-43404 Steve Bowbrick Tue, 09 Oct 2007 16:46:50 +0000 http://uk.techcrunch.com/2007/10/08/supersize-wi-fi-with-your-mcdonalds-burger/#comment-43404 This is pretty canny. There's a McDonalds on my route to work (on an A-road) which is heaving with reps and other mobile workers using laptops to go online already. It's also lately been refurbished and it's all kind of Philippe Starck and lovely. I guess this is likely to be more important for these suburban and trunk road McDs than for the High Street variety. This is pretty canny. There’s a McDonalds on my route to work (on an A-road) which is heaving with reps and other mobile workers using laptops to go online already. It’s also lately been refurbished and it’s all kind of Philippe Starck and lovely. I guess this is likely to be more important for these suburban and trunk road McDs than for the High Street variety.

]]> By: Scot http://uk.techcrunch.com/2007/10/08/supersize-wi-fi-with-your-mcdonalds-burger/#comment-43369 Scot Tue, 09 Oct 2007 14:52:59 +0000 http://uk.techcrunch.com/2007/10/08/supersize-wi-fi-with-your-mcdonalds-burger/#comment-43369 "Nevertheless, given their legendary low-rent oeuvre" You should try some of the refurbished outlets (like the one on the Strand). Some of them are now better looking and more comfortable than some Starbucks I've been to. “Nevertheless, given their legendary low-rent oeuvre”

You should try some of the refurbished outlets (like the one on the Strand). Some of them are now better looking and more comfortable than some Starbucks I’ve been to.

]]> By: Mike Butcher http://uk.techcrunch.com/2007/10/08/supersize-wi-fi-with-your-mcdonalds-burger/#comment-43328 Mike Butcher Tue, 09 Oct 2007 09:50:55 +0000 http://uk.techcrunch.com/2007/10/08/supersize-wi-fi-with-your-mcdonalds-burger/#comment-43328 Nevertheless, given their legendary low-rent oeuvre, give me a McDonald’s in Singapore or France any day over one in the UK. The N95 is indeed a great phone - assuming you can get it to work longer than the half an hour the battery will allow, according to the 95% of my contacts who own one. Nevertheless, given their legendary low-rent oeuvre, give me a McDonald’s in Singapore or France any day over one in the UK. The N95 is indeed a great phone - assuming you can get it to work longer than the half an hour the battery will allow, according to the 95% of my contacts who own one.

]]> By: Duncan http://uk.techcrunch.com/2007/10/08/supersize-wi-fi-with-your-mcdonalds-burger/#comment-43320 Duncan Tue, 09 Oct 2007 09:10:58 +0000 http://uk.techcrunch.com/2007/10/08/supersize-wi-fi-with-your-mcdonalds-burger/#comment-43320 Don't you think you're being a little elitist here? McDonalds 'hordes'? And the comment about McDonalds customers not owning WiFi phones? The N95 is free on O2 now, remember, and they're everywhere all of a sudden! Don’t you think you’re being a little elitist here? McDonalds ‘hordes’? And the comment about McDonalds customers not owning WiFi phones? The N95 is free on O2 now, remember, and they’re everywhere all of a sudden!

]]> By: Nico Macdonald http://uk.techcrunch.com/2007/10/08/supersize-wi-fi-with-your-mcdonalds-burger/#comment-43243 Nico Macdonald Mon, 08 Oct 2007 23:14:48 +0000 http://uk.techcrunch.com/2007/10/08/supersize-wi-fi-with-your-mcdonalds-burger/#comment-43243 I have never had a problem -- let alone trouble -- with using my laptop among the McDonald's 'hordes'. And McDonald's has the merit of being open all hours, unlike Starbucks. I have never had a problem — let alone trouble — with using my laptop among the McDonald’s ‘hordes’. And McDonald’s has the merit of being open all hours, unlike Starbucks.

]]> By: Andy Croll http://uk.techcrunch.com/2007/10/08/supersize-wi-fi-with-your-mcdonalds-burger/#comment-43153 Andy Croll Mon, 08 Oct 2007 17:13:24 +0000 http://uk.techcrunch.com/2007/10/08/supersize-wi-fi-with-your-mcdonalds-burger/#comment-43153 They've also been doing free wifi in Singapore (alongside France I note from the previous comment) it seems to work there in terms of foot traffic through the door... kids do their homework and big kids have meetings / play WoW until the early hours from what I can tell. Plus I think they're rolling out less plastic-y seats and layouts inside some of their stores. It looks like a primary-coloured Dr Evil lair with burgers if the newly refitted Balham branch is anything to go by. They’ve also been doing free wifi in Singapore (alongside France I note from the previous comment) it seems to work there in terms of foot traffic through the door… kids do their homework and big kids have meetings / play WoW until the early hours from what I can tell.

Plus I think they’re rolling out less plastic-y seats and layouts inside some of their stores. It looks like a primary-coloured Dr Evil lair with burgers if the newly refitted Balham branch is anything to go by.

]]> By: Ivan Pope http://uk.techcrunch.com/2007/10/08/supersize-wi-fi-with-your-mcdonalds-burger/#comment-43151 Ivan Pope Mon, 08 Oct 2007 16:31:59 +0000 http://uk.techcrunch.com/2007/10/08/supersize-wi-fi-with-your-mcdonalds-burger/#comment-43151 God, I just wish McD would sort out the general horribleness of their premises. I mean, their coffee is not that bad - drinkable in an unpretentious inexpensive sort of way. But the smell, the grease, the unpleasant demeanour of the staff. Or maybe that's just the Brighton London Road branch ... home of the £1 superstore. God, I just wish McD would sort out the general horribleness of their premises. I mean, their coffee is not that bad - drinkable in an unpretentious inexpensive sort of way. But the smell, the grease, the unpleasant demeanour of the staff. Or maybe that’s just the Brighton London Road branch … home of the £1 superstore.

]]> By: Lloyd Davis http://uk.techcrunch.com/2007/10/08/supersize-wi-fi-with-your-mcdonalds-burger/#comment-43126 Lloyd Davis Mon, 08 Oct 2007 15:35:56 +0000 http://uk.techcrunch.com/2007/10/08/supersize-wi-fi-with-your-mcdonalds-burger/#comment-43126 Mike, fear not, the Social Media Café will have absolutely free and easy to use wifi, no matter what device you choose to connect with - and we won't make you have fries with that either :) Mike, fear not, the Social Media Café will have absolutely free and easy to use wifi, no matter what device you choose to connect with - and we won’t make you have fries with that either :)

]]> By: Aaron http://uk.techcrunch.com/2007/10/08/supersize-wi-fi-with-your-mcdonalds-burger/#comment-43124 Aaron Mon, 08 Oct 2007 15:28:15 +0000 http://uk.techcrunch.com/2007/10/08/supersize-wi-fi-with-your-mcdonalds-burger/#comment-43124 "If McDonald’s users are required to log in with a full-blown browser they probably won’t be able to use their WiFi-enabled mobiles (assuming any McDonald’s customer actually owns a WiFi handset, of course). Which leaves you with the prospect of opening your expensive laptop in front of the McDonald’s hordes." Ill-researched nonsense. I've used the free wifi service in the French McDonalds restaurants - which seems to have been running for some time - and it works perfectly on wifi mobiles (such as my n95). In France, it doesn't require people to provide a name or address - just accept the McD's T&Cs. One click and you're in. If your wifi handset can't handle that then you've bought the wrong phone. “If McDonald’s users are required to log in with a full-blown browser they probably won’t be able to use their WiFi-enabled mobiles (assuming any McDonald’s customer actually owns a WiFi handset, of course). Which leaves you with the prospect of opening your expensive laptop in front of the McDonald’s hordes.”

Ill-researched nonsense. I’ve used the free wifi service in the French McDonalds restaurants - which seems to have been running for some time - and it works perfectly on wifi mobiles (such as my n95). In France, it doesn’t require people to provide a name or address - just accept the McD’s T&Cs. One click and you’re in.

If your wifi handset can’t handle that then you’ve bought the wrong phone.

]]>