Electrical outlets for my laptop?

My laptop battery has become more of a cruel joke than a usable thing - it lasts maybe 40 minutes. I do a lot of interviews and have a ton of transcribing to do, and I find that doing this work at home to be too distracting. I would like to get out and do it at coffee shops, diners, etc, but I have a hard time finding places that will let me use their outlets.

Any advice in the neighborhood?

Subject: Re: Electrical outlets for my laptop?

devincf wrote: I have a hard time finding places that will let me use their outlets.

Really? Have people actually told you, "you can't use the outlets here"? I've had trouble finding outlets, but I've never been told not to use one that's open.

Heights Cafe on Flatbush lets you use the outlets if you can manage to get a table.
Plus, I hear they have a lovely atmosphere, with well-designed furnishings and the smooth sounds of contemporary R&B playing. Don't rush your order though! Take the time to look at the baked goods while they prepare your fresh coffee. :evil: :roll: :idea:

You need a new battery. They stop holding a charge when they get old.

I definitely need a new battery, but it's an expense I can't really afford at the moment.

I have not yet been denied outlets, but I have a hard time finding them and feel weird asking But now that I know that Heights on Flatbush is good about it, I will start heading there more!

Subject: Try the Usual

Pssst...dirty little secret: there's WiFi at the Usual. Not provided by the establishment, of course. (Jeez, even calling the Usual an "establishment" makes me chuckle.) If you sit in one of the two front tables, there's Wifi leaking into the restaurant from all over the block.

And, to answer your question, if you sit at the front table closest to the wall, there's an outlet right there. On days when I work from home, I've been known to head over there for lunch, plant myself at that table for several hours, and leach off of their wall juice the whole time. They don't seem to mind at all. They were actually intrigued when I told them about the leaking WiFi.

Of course, if you sit at that table on a weekday when I'm trying to use it, I shall be rather put out.

Subject: Re: Try the Usual

dennisobell wrote: Pssst...dirty little secret: there's WiFi at the Usual. Not provided by the establishment, of course. (Jeez, even calling the Usual an "establishment" makes me chuckle.) If you sit in one of the two front tables, there's Wifi leaking into the restaurant from all over the block.

And, to answer your question, if you sit at the front table closest to the wall, there's an outlet right there. On days when I work from home, I've been known to head over there for lunch, plant myself at that table for several hours, and leach off of their wall juice the whole time. They don't seem to mind at all. They were actually intrigued when I told them about the leaking WiFi.

Of course, if you sit at that table on a weekday when I'm trying to use it, I shall be rather put out.

Surely if you were camped out with your laptop with a whole table to yourself, you wouldn't begrudge another laptop user the other seat, would you?

Subject: Re: Try the Usual

Carnivore wrote: Surely if you were camped out with your laptop with a whole table to yourself, you wouldn't begrudge another laptop user the other seat, would you?

The other seat? Surely not. But there is usually only one outlet free, so we would have to share that. But that's what batteries are for (working ones, anyway).

They have several tables with outlets at the Central Library on the 2nd floor. Their Wi-fi is off and on though.

Subject: Re: Try the Usual

dennisobell wrote: [quote=Carnivore]Surely if you were camped out with your laptop with a whole table to yourself, you wouldn't begrudge another laptop user the other seat, would you?

The other seat? Surely not. But there is usually only one outlet free, so we would have to share that. But that's what batteries are for (working ones, anyway).
So it would probably be a little gauche to show up at the local diner with a power strip, huh? :twisted: