Being an Internet geek is something I have been known for. Before I got my DSL connection at home from PLDT (decent enough so far, I have to say) I used to spend some time over at some Internet cafe: checking email, surfing sites from the wholesome to the, uhm, NSFW types, if you know what I mean.
Then came the phenomenon of mobile Internet, from the early WAP days to the current 3.5G capabilities of many mobile phones today. But despite my Internet geek reputation, I never bother to do surfing over my mobile phone, except for certain "urgent" situations. Not only is the connection that unreliable, even if my phone is 3.5G-capable, but the pricing is not that enticing for me to do so. (yes, even so with Globe's new "consumer-friendly" mobile surfing rates) Then there's also the issue of short battery life as well which is the problem of many 3G phones today in the market I am led to believe.
Then I got my Nokia N95, which introduced me to the "wonderful" world of Wi-Fi.
To those who don't know yet, the Nokia N95 is Nokia's "flagship" mobile phone model, packed with features like, 3.5G capability, rich HTML web renditions, and Wi-Fi capable too. Usually, Wi-Fi is a feature usually associated with laptop computers. Now more and more mobile phones are including it in their features. And for someone like me who doesn't have a laptop, this is one feature I like a lot about the N95.
One good thing about Wi-Fi is that you can access it for free anywhere there's a free Wi-Fi hotspot available. Well there's the catch there. And it has something to do with the keywords "available" and "free". While there's a good chance of finding available Wi-Fi hotspots, especially if you're in a commercial area like a mall or coffee shop, you may still have a hard time connecting to the Internet via Wi-Fi if the establishment you're in requires you first to buy their wireless access prepaid cards before you can enjoy surfing. While I understand the need to do business by the folks behind it, I can't help but feel repulsed and bummed by such sneaky business tactics. And being the cheapskate that I am, I always check for a free Wi-Fi zone.
Another thing I can't stand is the fact I sometimes can't seem to get a stable connection whenever I'm on a Wi-Fi hotspot. I don't know if it's just my mobile phone or if it's an inherent problem with Wi-Fi connections but it's frustrating.
Despite my woes, I enjoy surfing over Wi-Fi. Regardless of the restrictions mobile phones have when displaying web pages, I've come to enjoy the wonder of mobile surfing. This does not however replace my computer as far as my primary web-surfing tool, which I'm sure many will agree. But at least we no longer have to deal with WAP pages which are crippled and limiting the Internet experience over cell phones.
With this newfound appreciation, it has become a way for me to kill my time when I'm somewhere. Now I can't help checking with my phone from time to time to see if there's a free Wi-Fi hotspot available that I can take advantage of. After all, the best things in life are free.
One good thing about Wi-Fi is that you can access it for free anywhere there's a free Wi-Fi hotspot available. Well there's the catch there. And it has something to do with the keywords "available" and "free". While there's a good chance of finding available Wi-Fi hotspots, especially if you're in a commercial area like a mall or coffee shop, you may still have a hard time connecting to the Internet via Wi-Fi if the establishment you're in requires you first to buy their wireless access prepaid cards before you can enjoy surfing. While I understand the need to do business by the folks behind it, I can't help but feel repulsed and bummed by such sneaky business tactics. And being the cheapskate that I am, I always check for a free Wi-Fi zone.
Another thing I can't stand is the fact I sometimes can't seem to get a stable connection whenever I'm on a Wi-Fi hotspot. I don't know if it's just my mobile phone or if it's an inherent problem with Wi-Fi connections but it's frustrating.
Despite my woes, I enjoy surfing over Wi-Fi. Regardless of the restrictions mobile phones have when displaying web pages, I've come to enjoy the wonder of mobile surfing. This does not however replace my computer as far as my primary web-surfing tool, which I'm sure many will agree. But at least we no longer have to deal with WAP pages which are crippled and limiting the Internet experience over cell phones.
With this newfound appreciation, it has become a way for me to kill my time when I'm somewhere. Now I can't help checking with my phone from time to time to see if there's a free Wi-Fi hotspot available that I can take advantage of. After all, the best things in life are free.