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tuna9720

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jan 17, 2008
191
47
any updates on pricing? such as free wi-fi just like the iPhones?

or there is no way Att will make it free for iPad users?
 
Put $5 on a starbucks card, register an account at starbucks.com with it and you get 2 hours a day free forever right?

That was my plan once I have the iPad in hand.
 
I bought the Starbucks card which I believe gives you 2 free hours a day.

I'm not going to use more than that. ever.

You buy the card there, and then go online and register it. It should work after a few minutes.

I initially put $10 on it.
 
You also get access to AT&T Hotspots if you subscribe to AT&Ts DSL (at least my plan does). Also, keep in mind that the 3G subscription and the DSL subscription give you access to ALL AT&T hotspots, not just the ones in Starbucks.
 
Put $5 on a starbucks card, register an account at starbucks.com with it and you get 2 hours a day free forever right?

That was my plan once I have the iPad in hand.

Yes this is what i understand, but I haven't use it much yet.

Also, I'm not sure what would happen if you used up the money on the card as far as wi-fi goes, but I would imagine the wi-fi will still work as it doesn't seem connected to the balance for drinks.
 
apple has already said that (http://www.apple.com/ipad/3g/) all ipad users with 3g activated will get free usage of att wifi hotspots

"And with AT&T data plans, you’ll have access to over 20,000 Wi-Fi hotspots, including Starbucks, Barnes and Noble, and more."

Not sure if I'm reading this correctly but it looks like you have to buy an AT&T data plan first.
 
"And with AT&T data plans, you’ll have access to over 20,000 Wi-Fi hotspots, including Starbucks, Barnes and Noble, and more."

Not sure if I'm reading this correctly but it looks like you have to buy an AT&T data plan first.

Yeah, one of the iPad specific data plans. Just having the 3G model alone doesn't give you access.
 
I'm one of those who will have to wait for the 3G units to ship.

However on this subject I would say that many libraries have WiFi in them for free, the one here in Champaign, IL also has a little food bar that I'm told serves a good little cappuccino (I don't know as I don't drink the stuff, but they do carry a mean caffeine free Diet Pepsi). They also have a comfortable lounge to use your iPad.

There is also free WiFi at Barnes and Noble, and Borders bookstores. There are just loads of places to work comfortable with your WiFi iPads that you don't have to pay a penny for. Most are also gun free! :)
 
There is one "restriction" with the Starbucks card, you can only share your log in with up to two MAC addresses. If you try and log in with the Starbucks account on a third machine your account will be locked and you need to call customer support. I think it their attempt to limit people sharing their account log ins. The restriction does not apply to ATT DSL account log ins.
 
I remember someone saying that Starbucks verifies iPhones by simply looking for the useragent in the web browser. They also said that this can be faked by using the developer mode in Safari and changing the user agent to an iPhone and then they are able to get free access from a Mac. I have yet to test it, but if thats true, then how will they be able to know if you have a 3g iPad or not? Will they use different useragents? How will they know if your 3g account is active?
 
Keep in mind that with the Starbucks cards, you must use them to buy something every 30 days, or reload them every 30 days, otherwise your wifi access expires.
 
I remember someone saying that Starbucks verifies iPhones by simply looking for the useragent in the web browser. They also said that this can be faked by using the developer mode in Safari and changing the user agent to an iPhone and then they are able to get free access from a Mac. I have yet to test it, but if thats true, then how will they be able to know if you have a 3g iPad or not? Will they use different useragents? How will they know if your 3g account is active?

I am actually going to try this out today. I'll post my findings while I am there.
 
Keep in mind that with the Starbucks cards, you must use them to buy something every 30 days, or reload them every 30 days, otherwise your wifi access expires.

catch found! :(

I dont eat or drink their crap so that will be a no go for me. They just serve as a convenient restroom and meeting spot here. I guess $5 for 30 days isnt bad though.
 
I remember someone saying that Starbucks verifies iPhones by simply looking for the useragent in the web browser. They also said that this can be faked by using the developer mode in Safari and changing the user agent to an iPhone and then they are able to get free access from a Mac. I have yet to test it, but if thats true, then how will they be able to know if you have a 3g iPad or not? Will they use different useragents? How will they know if your 3g account is active?

That's for the free AT&T-provided wifi for iPhone/AT&T subscribers. AT&T sends a text message, which includes the login code, to the iPhone you're attempting to connect.

For non-iPhone customers, you have to go through the standard AT&T login portal. This will accept your U-Verse/AT&T DSL login, a paid subscription or free Starbucks card holder login (2 hrs per day limit).
 
catch found! :(

I dont eat or drink their crap so that will be a no go for me. They just serve as a convenient restroom and meeting spot here. I guess $5 for 30 days isnt bad though.

For the price of a cup of coffee or tea, you get yourself 60 hrs of free wifi for the month. Not too bad, really.

And actually, while a bit overpriced, their stuff isn't too bad. Even their pastries are made without trans-fats and other preservatives.
 
^^^^Exactly.


catch found! :(

I dont eat or drink their crap so that will be a no go for me. They just serve as a convenient restroom and meeting spot here. I guess $5 for 30 days isnt bad though.

It's not really a "catch". It's like maintaining a membership.

So you're a loiterer......

Have you actually tried their drinks/food, or do you just dislike Starbucks because you think it's trendy to do so? Making a sweeping generalization that everything that they serve is crap isn't a fair statement.
 
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