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What to Do When Laptops and Silence Take Over Your Cafe?

nytimes.com

11–20 of 315 posts

Re: What to Do When Laptops and Silence Take Over Your Cafe?

#11
post #2

How common is it for people to do actual, regular, serious work at coffee shops and the like? I've tried a couple of times and I always feel like such a pretentious wanker when I pull out a laptop and start working on stuff, like I'm somehow broadcasting "oh look at me, I work remotely, aren't I special?"

Is this what you think about other people you see working at coffee shops?

Re: What to Do When Laptops and Silence Take Over Your Cafe?

#13
post #3

So is this about sales or about the vibe of having a coffee place where people hang out and chat? I'd be happy to pay some money to work for longer than one drink at a cafe, but I don't really want to drink 5 coffees to work for a day.

This is called a coworking space ;)

Re: What to Do When Laptops and Silence Take Over Your Cafe?

#15
post #12

If I bought a cup of coffee at your shop and sat down, only for you to tell me that laptops are "not allowed," I'd be very unhappy with your store. Anyway, this is why coworking spaces exist.

Not so sure, depends if someone is taking the proverbial.

Re: What to Do When Laptops and Silence Take Over Your Cafe?

#17
post #3

So is this about sales or about the vibe of having a coffee place where people hang out and chat? I'd be happy to pay some money to work for longer than one drink at a cafe, but I don't really want to drink 5 coffees to work for a day.

This is called a coworking space ;)

Local coworking haunt (UK) is about £20 per day or more. That equates to about 10 coffees. Or 6 coffees, 1 soup and 1 cake. Which starts to make the cafe more appealing.

Re: What to Do When Laptops and Silence Take Over Your Cafe?

#18

I have to imagine wallpapering over a functional power outlet is not up to code.

The photographed lightswitch that is haphazardly installed on an open pattress with no cover is probably not up to code, either.

However, it does add to the atmosphere.

Re: What to Do When Laptops and Silence Take Over Your Cafe?

#19
post #11
post #2

How common is it for people to do actual, regular, serious work at coffee shops and the like? I've tried a couple of times and I always feel like such a pretentious wanker when I pull out a laptop and start working on stuff, like I'm somehow broadcasting "oh look at me, I work remotely, aren't I special?"

Is this what you think about other people you see working at coffee shops?

No, and so I don't really believe that's what other people are thinking. But it's how I feel, and it messes with my concentration.

Re: What to Do When Laptops and Silence Take Over Your Cafe?

#20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is called a coworking space ;)

Local coworking haunt (UK) is about £20 per day or more. That equates to about 10 coffees. Or 6 coffees, 1 soup and 1 cake. Which starts to make the cafe more appealing.

Sure, for one day this makes no sense. The problem is the pricing there, maybe there are better more sensible priced coworking spaces?

I know coworking spaces (Betahause in Berlin comes into my mind) which combine a "cyber"-cafe with an optional regular coworking space which gives you flexibility for showing up only 1 day and buy a coffee for working some hours.

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