Try a Coffee Bean next time. FREE wireless in all their stores.
http://coffeebean.com/

Whole Foods has wireless now in all the stores where I live, so you should check there too. .69 bottle of water and I'm sitting pretty for hours.

Actually you can get Starbucks free wi-fi, just get a free card at the counter, go to www.starbucks.com and register for AT&T wi-fi. You get up to two hours/day. I did at a local bux in my area now I can use it at anyone by my home.

You should be able to get online only to the AT&T site that you register the card at, once you do you are good to go.

They have free support as well if you have trouble.

I'm not sure what made you think that Starbucks had free wi-fi. That t-mobile hotspot logo is all over the place and if you go to the website, it tells you that you can get online access by registering. I use it sometimes when I need to study at the local Borders. I only pay $5.95 for a day pass so I'm not sure where the $10 came from. Anyways, I don't think starbucks ever gave the impression that their wi-fi access was free. I always check a business's website for their wi-fi information before I make the trek so it might be a worthwhile step to save you some trouble in the future.

And maybe it was the waitress's first day and she didn't know what you were talking about or how the wi-fi access at the diner worked. Its 2009 and plenty of people don't know how to hook up or access wi-fi. Besides, its not really the diner patrons' job to know what the wi-fi access password is because you might walk in one day needing it. Ask a manager.

"It's not a fun time." Haha, at least their employees are empathetic. Don't worry, I did this exact same thing one day last summer. I brought my laptop in and was ready to go, but then I got that stupid white and pink screen for T-Mobile and was so ticked that I had already bought my coffee. On the way out, I noticed one tiny "T-Mobile Hot Spot" window decal at waist level, very easy to miss. I left and went to Freebird's World Burrito instead, where the WiFi is always free and the customer service is always awesome.
Seriously, even Micky D's has free WiFi with the purchase of a schmancy new coffee. I think this should a given for any restaurant chain that is trying to brand themselves as modern in any way, shape, or form. Starbucks loses points with no free WiFi.

nothing's free. if it's free, don't expect it to be perfect. if it is, that's great. but don't expect it.

furthermore, two seconds of google searching *before* you left your house would've educated you on Starbuck's wifi policy. just because everyone else gives away free wifi doesn't mean that Starbucks *has* to. if enough customers are willing to take the trouble, then Starbucks has found the perfect model for making money off something everyone else gives away for free. isn't that called good business? Starbucks *is* a business, you know. not a charity. when they lose enough customers to lack of free wifi, they'll change.

so... you're complaining because "free stuff" isn't perfectly convenient and because *you* didn't bother to take the time to read up the fine print? oh wait... didn't those people who signed up for sub-prime mortgages do the same thing?

Is it just me, or did this entire post just seem like an internet tantrum?

Starbucks is not required to uphold your ridiculous fantasy of what the overly-trendy-yet-still-totally-"unique" coffee shop chain SHOULD be. They're a business, as others above me have said, and are going to try to make as much money as possible. I've never heard it said that Starbucks offered free wifi, and why should they? It won't stop their customers from coming in in search of your inspiration-fantasy, nor will it stop the hundreds of people (much like yourself) who want to be "seen" working on their laptops in a Starbucks.

Complaining about this is like complaining about the price of their coffee; the reason it's overpriced is because people are willing to pay for it. If you're going to bitch, do it about the trend-obsessed consumers who haven't demanded free wifi through their spending habits, not the financially-saavy corporation.

wow. angsty all the way around.

oh. and duh:
"for those interested, i have taken my coffee business elsewhere. to a lovely, magical place where the wifi is ALWAYS free, the soup comes in bowls made from BREAD! and there’s plenty of booths to spread out on. that’s right, i have become a super loyal panera bread patron."

Ah Crystal Crystal my dear Crystal. How I feel for you, how I sympathise, or empathise, I was never sure of the difference to be honest...

I found Kati's comment amusing because she was having a massive tantrum about your supposed tantrum. Slight hypocricy no? Anyway yes yes those of us that are old hands at the wifi in cafes game (I hate the office, I hate the library, I try to get away from these places to work/study as often as I can) no that Starbucks are complete and utter tight-asses when it comes to wifi. Even in places such as Bahrain and Kuala Lumpur where literally every single bloody cafe anywhere ever has free wifi, Starbucks still insists on charging. Damn good branding is what it is, keeps people coming back somehow or other (I guess it's the comfy seating, soft jazz and heroin they probably slip into the coffee).

The www.wififreespot.com is a good one but alternatively you can also google "Wefi" (as I can't remember the URL), it's an app you can download for your laptop and/or phone that will hunt down wifi in your area.

Best of luck and always remember... to remember any cafe you come across with free wifi because one fine day you may need it! (Also always check if it's working before you buy coffee...)