| Leave it to a city to teach newcomers the | | | | who are doing things like downloading movies and |
| importance of embracing the latest technology. | | | | music for later will find that not as much can get |
| Whether it’s for a job, university, or simply | | | | done in a coffeeshop with a slow connection. |
| trying to keep up at dinner parties, understanding | | | | There’s always the option to spend time |
| the latest gadgets and innovations gets | | | | surfing the web using a phone or an mp3 player, |
| significantly more important when you’re | | | | but for those who need the internet for |
| residing in a tech-heavy location. And it’s not | | | | something more serious than just checking a |
| just nerds and global businesspeople who are | | | | phone or using Facebook status updates, a phone |
| talking now when it comes to technology. With | | | | isn’t going to cut it. |
| more and more people using everything from | | | | Those with laptops, small apartments, and urban |
| smartphones to wireless internet, things that used | | | | zip codes have been abuzz about the latest option |
| to be the domain of technology oriented people | | | | for getting online from just about anywhere. Using |
| are now used by everyone. | | | | the same technology that cell phone companies |
| One of the biggest adjustments newcomers to | | | | do to bounce signals from tower to tower, |
| the city have to deal with is the fact that | | | | allowing for more reliable coverage all over the |
| sometimes, a cramped apartment is not the best | | | | city (and state), WiMax definitely offers |
| place to get things done. Whether it’s | | | | something that did not previously exist. Rather |
| telecommuting, writing a paper, or finishing up | | | | than just a faster version of the same way of |
| some business at home, there are plenty of | | | | getting online, this is actually a step forward. |
| reasons to figure out alternatives to spending all | | | | Think of it this way: most people who are using |
| of your time at home. One of the most common | | | | wireless networks are confined to the range of |
| ways of getting out and about while still | | | | the network, which is not even a city block. With |
| accomplishing goals for the day has traditionally | | | | this new version of wireless, it’s possible to |
| been to locate a cafe in the neighborhood, | | | | ride the train across town and never lose your |
| preferably one with free wireless internet. This | | | | signal. Likewise, you can go to any cafe and turn |
| way, you can drink a coffee, socialize, and check | | | | it into your freelancing hot spot, because the |
| your email from a room that is roughly four times | | | | super-fast 4G network will be right there. |
| the size of your apartment. | | | | So for busy and wired city dwellers who need |
| But the downside to having wireless available is | | | | somewhere to get online other than at home or |
| that too often, it’s not that reliable. When the | | | | the office, a world of options has now opened |
| whole coffeeshop is using the same connection, | | | | thanks to WiMax. Whether you’re finishing up |
| things tend to lag. It might not matter if | | | | something for a business presentation, catching up |
| you’re just going to be working for a couple | | | | with friends on Skype, or simply working on your |
| of hours, but professional freelancers and those | | | | own projects, it’s a lot easier to be online. |