Laptop in Chinese Internet cafes?
February 1, 2006 1:12 AM
Chinese Internet Cafes - is there a chance to plug in my laptop?
I'm going to China for a three week stay shortly and will bring my laptop. I'd love to continue blogging during the visit, but I'm not exactly sure how much preparation will be necessary - I have a GSM mobile phone that should provide dialup Internet from China, but that's at a rather disappointing 9.6kbps.
Can anyone fill me in on the detailed mode of operation of Chinese Internet cafes? Is it usually possible to connect my own laptop or do they force you to use their machines? How else would you get your pictures and blog posts online?
I'm going to China for a three week stay shortly and will bring my laptop. I'd love to continue blogging during the visit, but I'm not exactly sure how much preparation will be necessary - I have a GSM mobile phone that should provide dialup Internet from China, but that's at a rather disappointing 9.6kbps.
Can anyone fill me in on the detailed mode of operation of Chinese Internet cafes? Is it usually possible to connect my own laptop or do they force you to use their machines? How else would you get your pictures and blog posts online?
We are in the process of adopting a little girl from China, so I have similar questions. From what I understand, you can't hit Blogger from there, so most folks do email posts, which works fine. I know there are more sophisticated ways around these hurdles, but I'd like to hear from anyone who has spent some time surfing in China to know what is/isn't possible for the average chump using an internet cafe machine...
posted by daveleck at 5:22 AM on February 1, 2006
posted by daveleck at 5:22 AM on February 1, 2006
Why don't you blog from internet cafes and forget the laptop?
posted by k8t at 5:28 AM on February 1, 2006
posted by k8t at 5:28 AM on February 1, 2006
Every Internet cafe I've been to in China did not have any such setup. You pay to use their computer, which is usually loaded with things like Counter-strike and probably a million worms. If you're going to the major cities, especially Beijing and Shanghai, you're better off finding a proper coffee shop with wireless. Keep a look out for SPR Coffee, a Chinese chain. They have wireless in every shop. In Beijing, my favorite place was The Bookworm. They've moved since I left in August, but I'm sure they got wireless again. A lot of the bars that target laowais now have wireless as well.
posted by RobotAdam at 11:12 AM on February 1, 2006
posted by RobotAdam at 11:12 AM on February 1, 2006
Thanks, I goess I'll try going with wireless since I'll spend most time in major cities anyway.
k8t: My blog setup is rather complicated (nanoblogger based), so I either need to work from my own machine or SSH into accounts that I think too valuable to touch from a public machine...
posted by themel at 12:23 PM on February 1, 2006
k8t: My blog setup is rather complicated (nanoblogger based), so I either need to work from my own machine or SSH into accounts that I think too valuable to touch from a public machine...
posted by themel at 12:23 PM on February 1, 2006
themel: It really depends on the net bar in question. They are all set up with DHCP so if you can convince them to allow you to plug in you are good to go. Your best bet is to find a net bar near, (are you staying in one place?), where you will be and use the same place. Once they understand your intention they can time you manually instead of the apps that might be on the net bar computer for that etc.
Within my first week I was doing exactly what you want to do. I have also been told no so it really varies. Good luck.
daveleck: I don't use blogger but have friends that do and they report that they can log-in and blog but can't view it if that makes sense. To view it they often use anonymouse.org or another proxy.
posted by geekyguy at 5:54 AM on February 3, 2006
Within my first week I was doing exactly what you want to do. I have also been told no so it really varies. Good luck.
daveleck: I don't use blogger but have friends that do and they report that they can log-in and blog but can't view it if that makes sense. To view it they often use anonymouse.org or another proxy.
posted by geekyguy at 5:54 AM on February 3, 2006
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Wolof at 4:17 AM on February 1, 2006