Since I’ve been in Toronto
Since I’ve been in Toronto for a few days and I’m staying downtown, I decided to make use of the map provided by Naked Wireless. While I completely agree with their site regarding security issues and our Canadian corporations should be more careful about exposing their networks, I feel no qualms in the meantime about using their network as long as I’m not hacking theirs.
Judging from the map, you’d think I could pretty much step onto the street and get a signal. You’d think correctly. I cradled my laptop in my arm, with the wireless card protruding so that I could see the two blinking lights. Within two steps of my hotel, the card registered a signal. However, I needed to find one that’s close to some caffeine supply establishment; ideally with access to what we call “electricity”. This task proved more difficult. Picture a guy walking around with his laptop outside in 5 degree (celsius) weather, trudging through snow, intermittedly checking his signal. Picture said person walking into every Tim Horton’s donut, Starbucks and unknown coffee shops, circling the establishment, peering under tables, chairs and people’s legs in search of a power outlet. This same individual will occasionally seat himself in a coffee shop, purchase a drink, and discover the signal he was receiving outside was not accessible in the shop.
Finally, picture the poor sod standing outside, open laptop in one hand, while the other checks e-mail in a limp hunt and peck fashion somewhere in the middle of Toronto’s financial district.
The things I do for broadband.
