Internet - All the time...everywhere....free!
Paw Prints: Writings of the maddog
I am once again headed to the airport, this time to fly to London for the cloud computing conference I blogged about previously. Normally I take a private car, but this time I decided to use the bus service that goes from a free parking lot close to my house directly to the airport. It is only twenty-six dollars round trip, a lot less than the private car.
I have taken the bus before. It is comfortable and has a bathroom on board (important when you drink a lot of coffee and are "older"), and often I start up my notebook computer and work a bit.
This time was different. They had free WiFi on board the bus. This is awesome. Now I can spend the hour and one-half it takes to get to the airport sending email, gathering information for my next talk, and working away as if I was at my house. Then I get to the airport and once through check in and security I can plug in my notebook, charging it for the flight, and use the Internet again.
After years of traveling getting worse, a few small bright spots.
maddog
Comments
comments powered by DisqusSubscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
Canonical Bumps LTS Support to 12 years
If you're worried that your Ubuntu LTS release won't be supported long enough to last, Canonical has a surprise for you in the form of 12 years of security coverage.
-
Fedora 40 Beta Released Soon
With the official release of Fedora 40 coming in April, it's almost time to download the beta and see what's new.
-
New Pentesting Distribution to Compete with Kali Linux
SnoopGod is now available for your testing needs
-
Juno Computers Launches Another Linux Laptop
If you're looking for a powerhouse laptop that runs Ubuntu, the Juno Computers Neptune 17 v6 should be on your radar.
-
ZorinOS 17.1 Released, Includes Improved Windows App Support
If you need or desire to run Windows applications on Linux, there's one distribution intent on making that easier for you and its new release further improves that feature.
-
Linux Market Share Surpasses 4% for the First Time
Look out Windows and macOS, Linux is on the rise and has even topped ChromeOS to become the fourth most widely used OS around the globe.
-
KDE’s Plasma 6 Officially Available
KDE’s Plasma 6.0 "Megarelease" has happened, and it's brimming with new features, polish, and performance.
-
Latest Version of Tails Unleashed
Tails 6.0 is based on Debian 12 and includes GNOME 43.
-
KDE Announces New Slimbook V with Plenty of Power and KDE’s Plasma 6
If you're a fan of KDE Plasma, you'll be thrilled to hear they've announced a new Slimbook with an AMD CPU and the latest version of KDE Plasma desktop.
-
Monthly Sponsorship Includes Early Access to elementary OS 8
If you want to get a glimpse of what's in the pipeline for elementary OS 8, just set up a monthly sponsorship to help fund its continued existence.
More on Internet While Traveling
For those who follow my writings, you know I travel a LOT. Several years ago I signed onto a service that offers (in effect) roaming through thousands of different hot-spots throughout the world. I pay a certain amount every month, and then when I reach an airport, hotel or other paid hot spot, typically my provider has an agreement with them to allow me to use their hot spot without additional charge. Is it everywhere? No, but I have saved a lot of money throughout the years by using this service.
There are other concepts that are coming about. FON (http://www.fon.com/en/promos/fonera2) for instance, where I did not look at them for a couple of months and during that time they have developed their new FON 2.0 router that not only routes but is a mini-server too. FON hot spots continue to grow in number and usability.
Or WeFi (http://www.wefi.com/), as a way to find free WiFi spots.
And of course some people are tuning in with cellular 3G service, even if their cell phones do not support 3G by using 3G dongles if they are available.
Communication is becoming easier, faster and cheaper even if it is not "omnipresent and free" right now.
Glad to hear that this is changing for the better