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On vacation doesn't mean unplugged By Michelle Johnson, 7/6/2000
We're not talking slick, animated, cutting-edge dot-coms here. What these sites lack in ''look and feel,'' they make up for with comprehensive content. They serve up everything you could ever possibly want to know about topic X, presented in detail that only the truly obsessed could love. The rest of us reapthe benefits.
Take, for instance, the Cybercafe Search Engine at www.cybercaptive.com. Itlets you search for cyber cafes and other ''public Internet access points'' around the globe. I dropped in on this site in a fit of panic about not having a laptop on vacation. I wanted to find out where I could log on in an emergency. (Yes, I should probably see a therapist about my ''separation anxiety'' problem, but in the meantime, thanks to the Cybercafe Search Engine, I'm no longer worried about being away and unplugged.)
The site claims to have a database containing ''5,128 verified cyber cafes,public Internet access points, and kiosks in 151 countries.'' The site says the Cybercafe Search Engine is dedicated to people ''looking for places to check their e-mail while on the road or vacation, or for local visitors looking toscan some photos or play Doom on a T1 network or simply to associate with other Net people.''
The site's creator says it was born out of frustration with other sites that contained out-of-date stuff. The Cybercafe Search Engine is monitored daily by a ''robot,'' or program that checks out each listing in the database.
Click the ''Database Integrity'' link on the home page to bring up this explanation of how it all works: ''If a listing comes up in the warning area, it is verified by phone or e-mail that day. If such a venue is not available, thelisting is edited appropriately so that viewers will be forewarned. If the warning persists more than 3 weeks, it is reviewed and verified a second time. If verification is still not feasible, the listing is removed from the database.''
Presumably, this means the listings don't contain information about services that have shut down, although a disclaimer warns it's not foolproof. So check before you go.
With few graphics to slow things down, the site loads quickly. To search the database, simply enter a city, state, province, or country. You get back a list of places where you can log on in that area. Yes, there are a few banner ads here. And if you run a cyber cafe, the site will try to sell you special services, but it's a low-key presentation.
You may be wondering how useful it is to search for cyber cafes. Aren't they disappearing? Yes, they have been losing ground as home computer ownership rises. But they're still popular in areas where Internet access is limited and among travelers sans laptops. According to an ongoing survey of the site's visitors, 71 percent say their primary use of cyber cafes is when they're on vacation or traveling.
You'll pay about $3 to $5 an hour to use a computer at a cyber cafe. The price goes up, of course, if you order food and a cappuccino.
Other options for logging on when you're on vacation without a computer include:
The public library. Even in the smallest towns, libraries offer public Internet access terminals. Check here first.
The airport. It will cost you more because airport services are geared to business travelers. But in a pinch, you may be able to log on right at the airport.
Laptop Lane, for instance (at www.laptoplane.com), will rent you a workstation that includes a computer, printer, and lots of other stuff you shouldn't bother with on vacation. Some airports offer kiosks and Internet terminals for a fee. Often they'll list such services on their Web sites, so you can check before you pack your bags.
The local copy shop. Again, these may not be as cheap as some cybercafes or the library, but you'll find lots of locations. Tops in this categoryis Kinko's, at www.kinkos.com.
Now, don't you feel better about being separated from your computer when you head off for some well-deserved rest and relaxation? I know I do. All I haveto do now is resist the temptation to work while I'm away.
Michelle Johnson, a former editor for The Boston Globe, is an Internet consultant. She can be reached at mijohn@mail-me.com.
This story ran on page C04 of the Boston Globe on 7/6/2000.
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ne thing about the Internet that never ceases to amaze me is the number of incredibly useful Web sites run by people out of the kindness of their hearts, or for short money generated by a banner ad or two.