Nice NYT story about the NYCWireless collective's latest hot-spot, in Bryant Park. I've never really gotten the value of hotspots in parks — I can't see my laptop's screen in direct sunlight, so working in a park seems pretty impractical. I guess that sitting under a nice shady tree would be do it, though.
The wireless high-speed connection funnels into the park via a T-1 line, a high grade of Internet cable, and is sent through the park's airwaves by a radio transmitter.
On a recent afternoon, Mr. Eckhaus was sitting near the carousel, reading an Israeli newspaper and downloading music.
Directly across the park, Loren Finkelstein, a computer network administrator, was exchanging instant messages in the sun.
On the east side of the park, Kingsley Rowe, a recent graduate of New York University, was sitting at a table, reading e-mail messages and checking for more tips in his job search.
Mr. Eckhaus said: "The first time you browse the Internet, it was wonderful. It's like that all over again."
(Thanks, Gary!)
