Mobile Users Plug-in Anywhere They Can

jasonla writes "The New York Times looks at mobile technology users who leech power from restaurant and airport outlets while on the road. The article looks at the habits and 'culture' of people who use portable devices -- such as laptops, iPods and cellphones -- and what the businesses think of power hungry customers." As interesting as the phenomena of customers leeching power from the businesses they frequent is the self-imposed etiquette of many users.

Re:what about the other leachers?

[klang]

In this house we obey the laws of thermodynamics!

I don't leech!

[MrRuslan]

I borrow. Sometimes with interest!

Re:what about the other leachers?

[welshwaterloo]

I'm not sure even SCO think they own the gravity local to their offices...

Re:Not like it really COSTS anything.

[MrRuslan]

hmm...thats not a bad idea...perhaps they should make parking meeter style outlets for 25 cents a per half hour with a 2 hour limit...and 10 minutes and with a 30 minute limit in Manhatan. Quick someone patent that!

Re:It's not leeching

[Anonymous Coward]

Uh, didn't the OP say that?

Always done it...

[Mister Transistor]

Har! Back in 1986 when I was on the road making locale-specific engineering modifications to a pay telephone system I designed, I had an 8085 emulator-in-a-briefcase and a full-size Compaq "Luggable" (8088 12 Mhz 40 MB HD) that I used to plug into airport AC outlets and play Chess and Rouge (Epyx's version for PC) with it while waiting for flights!

You see, I had no "Geek Shame" back then, and nowadays no one would give me a 2nd look, except perhaps the wonderful TSA folks...

It also had a nice clock on the screen by a TSR program of some sort, which would remind me when to pack up and go to the gate. Unfortunately, once, after a couple of cocktails, I forgot completely about the whole time zone thing, and missed my flight clean by an hour! But that is another story...

Re:Not really a problem, giving the billing struct

[Shisha]

I think there is another important issue: safety. If your device short circuits the airport power network and then it takes 20 minutes before someone finds the circuit breaker then people are not going to be happy. And what if your device screws up someones laptop? (I know this is _really_ unlikely) The UK solution is that all electrical devices plugged in any sort of public socket (e.g. libraries) should be tested for safety, whenever they're more than one year old.

I'd imagine that airports have two or three different level of electricity grid one for the "totally essential" and one for all the shops adverts and Christmas trees.

As for the electricity bill: if I'm at the airport and everything is running on time then batteries in my laptop last long enough. If my flight gets delayed by 7 hours like it did the last time then I feel I have the right to use some electricity, for all the airport taxes I have paid. Even if that means unplugging some Christmas tree.

And if any employee of the airport wants to come and argue about this then he's welcome: I have 7 hours to spare and I'm pretty annoyed to begin with.

Re:what about the other leachers?

[kfg]

So what does that make Mc Choke 'n Puke then?

A drive-by window. When you see their window, just keep driving by.

KFG

Outlet lock down.

[fr2asbury]

That's why you need to carry around one of those adapters that plug into an incandescent lightbulb socket with a couple plugs on the side. That way if they lock down the outlets, all you need to do is sit next to a lamp.

Oh . . . and bring an oven mit along too, if the light is on.

Re:what about the other leachers?

[Anonymous Coward]

Mmmm... Now there's a combination I never thought of before -- please share your recipes that combine bannanas and cheese into something delicious and nutricious. I may never eat out again!

Re:Leeching????

[Anonymous Coward]

Napkins, you limey bastard.

WTF?!

[EvilStein]

There's a friggin 24/7 coffee shop in MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN but I cannot find *any* here in the goddamn SILICON VALLEY. There is something seriously wrong with this picture. :P

"Heart of technology" my ass. This dump sucks. I'm going to Wisconsin!

Re:Pah!

[RichardX]

I used to steal electricity.. at first it was just the occasional pocketful, but it soon escalated. Before I knew it I was running carloads of electricity across the border at a time, running a major smuggling operation and selling to some of the underworld's most shadowy consumers of electricity.. it's a slippery slope, I'd advise you to stay well clear

Re:what about the other leachers?

[kfg]

First, eat the banana, thus disarming him.

Second eat the cheese.

Sometimes foodstuffs are just foodstuffs you know. You don't need a recipe, just stuff it in your mouth and chew for goodness' sake.

Oh, yeah, sooner or later you might want to try swallowing ( or at least that's what I tried to tell her).

KFG

Re:Charging an iPod? That's NOTHING

[Taladar]

You know, there are these things called 'books' that work without power I've heard...

Re:Charging an iPod? That's NOTHING

[Moofie]

Ever heard of fire?

Re:what about the other leachers?

[dgatwood]

What would you suggest in its place? "Artifact"? "Knicknack"? The ever popular "thingy"?

How about the standard business school term, "widget"?