@singlecoilpickup: You make a good point about their espresso drinks.

mmm espresso...

(damn you)

strider_mt2k

Why all the Starbucks hate? Sure their plain coffee kind of sucks, but so does anyone's who sits on a heating pad for hours. Their espresso drinks are fine though, since they brew it when you order your drink. Sure, it's expensive, but remember, you're paying for more than just the cup of coffee. Starbucks tends to allocate their value to the "Starbucks Experience" rather than just "making coffee." Sometimes you just can't beat the convenience. When I'm out and feeling like coffee, McDonald's certainly doesn't satisfy the need.

singlecoilpickup

@TOWken22: You mean Fourbucks?

How much does it cost to get Wi-Fi at Starbucks per month and wouldn't it be cheaper to buy a carriers service based Express Card or PCMCIA card?

Joseph

used to... haven't in a year...

xthemusicmanx

I have a hard enough time paying the bloated prices at Starbucks for their burnt coffee, the last thing I want to do is pay for internet access, which at this point should be a free with the prevalence of over the air internet access. Seriously, how many people actually pay to use T-Mobile's WiFi at Starbucks?

TOWken22

@jesusdiaz: OK OK, you win. I'll go to the penis thread.

carmen

I have to jump in here- first off, I am a Starbucks fan. However, if I go to a Starbucks, it isn't for their regular coffee - it's for one of the drinks. I will buy their bags of beans, though, because it is usually pretty good quality.

That said, I also worked at a McDonald's for a while.. and we changed our coffee over every 20 minutes, rather than the hour, which I found somewhat ironic.

jlawson

What's all this Starbucks crap? I post a penis in the front page and nobody notices it?

You people are sick.

jesusdiaz

I like Starbucks. I remember going to Downtown Ann Arbor and going into a Bigby' coffee, Michigan based I believe so it was local business well all I wanted was a Large Black Iced Coffee, they wanted FOUR DOLLARS for it! I couldn't believe that, and I'm not a frugal person but that was just outrageous. So my friend and I walk down to the Starbucks down the street and I got the largest sized iced coffee and it was less than three dollars. Also those espresso drinks at the Bigby's started off at over four dollars at the smallest size while Starbucks started at a little over 3. I used to work for Starbucks, it's a good company and we keep things as fresh as possible. Our coffee was changed every hour and espresso was not used unless it had the right creme and espresso ratio. Plus I've had other local business coffee and their coffee tastes like horse shit :)

carmen

@friendslikeJimRome: Ah, DD...I was too, until I found out they were filing frivolous lawsuits against local franchisees in order to push them out of business so they could either a) buy the franchises back at a discount or b) have less competition for their own expansion.
Bastards. [consumerist.com]

92BuickLeSabre

@friendslikeJimRome: Dunkin' fan here too, but I'll take espresso anywhere I can get it. ;)

I always wanted to be a regular at a Diner like that, and now my wife and I are. It's everything it's cracked up to be. :D

strider_mt2k

The geek world seems to be divided into two armed camps, the Starbucks haters and the people who live at Starbucks. Personally, I'm a Dunky D man and I'm looking forward to the day when I'm one of those old guys you see in the corner at every Dunky D, arguing about the RedSox or something.

friendslikeJimRome

@singlecoilpickup: I sip my Haterade with a little bit of milk, no sugar, for the following reasons:
1) Over-roasted (not just dark roasted) beans, including for their espresso drinks.
2) Paying for the "Starbucks Experience"
3) Pushing out local coffee shops (admittedly only in places that already had them.)
4) Driving up local rents with their ubiquity
5) Increased over-caloriefication of the world
6) That I actually can get a heating pad cup of coffee cheaper around the corner that will be better, but everyone is crowding in at the Starbucks, which is just irritating.
7) Anti-union (although this is last, because their employee benefits are pretty decent given the market.)

92BuickLeSabre

@singlecoilpickup:
Sure, it's expensive, but remember, you're paying for more than just the *burnt* cup of coffee.

That's exactly the problem. Starbucks claims to be providing a "premium coffee experience", but what they actually serve is crap burnt coffee. They're at once pretentious, overpriced and deficient. It's nice that they're fair trade and support independent artists and all, but is it too much to ask that they serve correctly prepared coffee?

PeterSimpson

Damn, i did not see that huge penis =(

Nighthawkz

@easy2panic: You must understand that here, on this website, spotting a penis or a titty is a skill not a sick psychological issue.

carmen

Damn, I noticed but I am posting too late.

@jesusdiaz: How are we sick if we didn't notice it. Isn't it people with dirty minds who usually notice that stuff first?

easy2panic

I dont see a penis posted anywhere. I know its early, but I can usually spot those. Anyone want to point me in the direction of the hidden giant penis?

Curves

@jesusdiaz: It is pretty subtle. To the extent a giant penis is ever subtle.

92BuickLeSabre

@jesusdiaz: I was just about to reply with "Is that a corporate logo in your pocket or are you just glad to see me?"

Can't believe nobody saw it.

Get your mind in the gutter folks, there's plenty of room.

WIS-key

@Nighthawxz: You wanted to see a huge penis?

Well... there's always Google if you feel like you're missing out, I guess.

jlawson

@jesusdiaz: because i don't want to see penis. i want to see boobies.

firesign

OMG ITS A GIANT PENIS!!! but i always pictured ATT on the left... you know all those times I have thought about telecom/coffee phalluses.

But seriously, its good they reached a "memorandum of understanding". I don't know what that means, but it is nice nonetheless.

Tacos

I will actually miss the T-Mo WiFi at Starbux. Since it was not free, it was always fast and uncrowded. The local Panera had 50 people camped there with their laptops and you could never get a place to sit.

As far as benefits and other political considerations, SBUX pays more for healthcare than beans. What benefits do your locals or DD provide? How about pay?

jhp2

TOWken re your comment "which at this point should be a free with the prevalence of over the air internet access."

What makes you think you are entitled to something for free? If a business wants to provide it, fine. If you do not want to patronize a business that does not provide free WiFi, fine. Butr to think that you a have a right to have someone pay for your web surfing is selfish and silly. Someone has to pay for that access and all a coffee shop owes you for your money is a cup of coffee. Bully for you if they offer more.

jhp2

Yes, I love penis... I mean Starbucks' espresso drinks.

berribrand

@firesign: ( . Y . )

Curves

I always suspected Jesus had a twisted sense of humor.

Skeptical_Geezer

I am not a penis fan, nor am I a Starbucks fan. Dutch Brothers smoke Starbucks

IrnWoyr

Ha, awesome phallic. I mean graphic. Graphic.

SimpleNate