Using laptops while eating in restaurants --- do you do this?

laptop  - using laptop while in a busy fast food restaurant
Philippines
February 2, 2010 10:26am CST
I spotted a lady tinkering with her laptop while eating in a fast food restaurant the other day. She switched between feeding herself and using the laptop. There were lots of people in the restaurant but she chose a place in a corner where she was alone at that time. Have you done this? Has using the laptop while eating in busy restaurants been a habit of yours? What is your take on this?
2 people like this
15 responses
• Pamplona, Spain
3 Feb 10
Hiya MMT, Perhaps she has to work and is forced to do that otherwise I would never do that. Maybe in time this will be an accepted thing to do but I would never do this in Public and rarely at Home either. Mealtimes for me well are a time to slow down and relax the problem is I get too relaxed (grin). However if I saw anyone doing this and up to now I have´nt I would appreciate that it is their right to do whatever they want. Some people are subjected now to much oppression in their work and it could be they don´t have much time for a mealbreak.
• Pamplona, Spain
3 Feb 10
Hiya MMT, Well here´s me off to rest again for a mini meal which we usually have here called the Merienda. But it´s not much to eat or else be like the side of a House lol. You are right it´s none of my business if someone sits near to me and starts typing away on their Computer. It could always be for work reasons who knows? That´s between the Lady and the Computer. See you now.
• Philippines
3 Feb 10
Hi LAI, We have so much influence from the Spaniards and we call it "merienda" here, too. It is not something much, yes, just a way to satisfy hunger till the next meal. Have a nice day.
• Philippines
3 Feb 10
Hi LAI, There are reasons of the user of the laptop which we are not privy of. Maybe she does not any other time to do that and what she did was really urgent. Like you, I like to enjoy my time with my food. We are all entitled to our own time be it rest or while having meals.
@hexeduser22 (7253)
• Philippines
3 Feb 10
I haven't done this because my machine is big and heavy but I often see people doing it though. Specially in the restaurants with free wi fi connection For me it's okay I don't mind it actually
• Philippines
4 Feb 10
That is really true. It is scary.
• Philippines
4 Feb 10
Specially in the Metros the number of robbers are increasing by the day
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
5 Feb 10
I've never taken my laptop into a restaurant. I really don't see the point in it considering the fact that I have a computer in my home with internet access and when I go out it is to get out of the house and away from the temptations of technology. Now, I suppose if I didn't have access in my own home then I might be likely to go to a restaurant that had WiFi access and use it so that I could get my internet fix.
• Philippines
5 Feb 10
laptop - laptops in our place attracts the attention of robbers and holduppers
Hi Dorannmwin, That's true. Free internet access would not be much of an "invitation" for me, too to use laptops in restaurants. In the first place, it is too cumbersome to carry a laptop. Here, laptops are "too attractive" to robbers and holduppers. It is never too safe to be carrying this around especially if you don't have your own car.
@MrKennedy (1978)
4 Feb 10
I do sometimes, especially if I am on the raod and travelling on business. It sometimes helps me feel less awkward if I am eating alone when I have a laptop in front of me to keep me occupied, but I will only take it if I need to do work on it, otherwise I can wait.
• Philippines
4 Feb 10
laptop - an office mate working on her laptop
Hi MrKennedy, It is really a useful tool especially for people who travel. It is so accessible wherever you are. You need not look for an internet cafe to go online and do things. Of course, in times of urgency, we can always break our personal "rules". I don't bring my laptop with me because if I wanted to pass by department stores, I have to bring it with me anywhere for fear that it might get lost. And besides, I can always go online in the office.
• Philippines
4 Feb 10
No i don't feel like opening my laptop in restaurants unless i really need to do so. Lots of restaurants nowadays provides internet access for free so some people take advantage of that but personally i still prefer opening my laptop at home where i am very comfortable.
• Philippines
4 Feb 10
Hi Triplejazzm, Free access would be the most possible reason. But if it only gives me so little time to do that there until you I done eating, I personally think that it is not worth carrying the heavy thing with me. I would rather go online at home where I can use it as long as I want with the comfort and freedom that comes with the place. I also think it is too cumbersome for me to bring my laptop. Also, I can go online in the office anytime.
• Philippines
3 Feb 10
I have not done this - bringing my laptop and using it while eating. I do admit that ever since free wifi was offered in malls and selected restaurants in the city (some still do have limits - i.e. free 45 mins. when purchasing items), a lot of people now bring laptops - but not just your average businessmen. I do admit it is tempting but I have to avoid it because thieves are up and about looking for laptops to be taken away from their owners.
• Philippines
4 Feb 10
laptop - laptop in use at home
Yes, in fact these restaurants require you to buy to be able to use the wi-fi connection.
• Philippines
3 Feb 10
Hi, Posted my response twice-sorry about that. But I am still tempted to do it - if not for safety - but sometime I do need it because I am doing freelance recruitment/headhunting. Most of the people with laptop likes to take advantage not because it part of the new lifestyle but playing games in the internet, loading video or music or just be part of the in-crowd. I always see them in most cafes takig Restaurants in the metro have placed some limits - they do notice that they do buy anything at all.
@youless (112091)
• Guangzhou, China
3 Feb 10
I seldom will bring my laptop outside unless I have a travel. But most of the time I will use my laptop in the hotel rather than in the restaurant. That is because my laptop battery can't last for a long time. It will be frustrating if the laptop will be turned off automatically since low power. I just like to use my cellphone to connect internet when I am in the restaurant because it is much more convenient. I love China
• Philippines
3 Feb 10
Hi Youless, You have a real good point there. Batteries won't last that long. And if you have to use it at a place where you are not allowed or free to plug the power cord, as you said, it would be frustrating to be abnormally cut off from what we are doing. One risk of bringing laptops outside the homes in our place is hold-up and robberies. The criminal elements now know what is valuable and what they can take away from you in exchange for money. Robbers are even interested in flash drives and rob these from you, too.
@gracie04 (4549)
• Philippines
3 Feb 10
Well, I must admit that I use the laptop while eating at restaurants at times.. you know, i don't miss the opportunity of surfing the internet for free as not all shopping malls offer free wi-fi service.. it's nice to visit your favorite websites whilst enjoying your food.. citylife style cafe, joey pepperoni pizza and starbucks are my three favorite places where i enjoy surfing and eating at the same time.
• Philippines
3 Feb 10
Hi Gracie, I noticed that there are more and more cafes and restaurants which are in the wi-fi zone. Businesses have managed to become more competitive and offer this kind of service to the clientele. What better way to enjoy coffee and meals but in a free wi-fi zone!
@meapas (2436)
• India
2 Feb 10
There are many people doing different things while eating. Some read newspaper while eating. I simply can't manage both. I am a lover of foods and so I have to enjoy my foods with all respects. What ever I do, I do justice to it.
• Philippines
3 Feb 10
Hi Meapas, Exactly. We are unique in our ways. We have different ways of life. I personally think that it is how they spend and do their life and as long as they don't encroach on my table while using the laptop, I don't see any problem with that. Thanks!
@bingchen (1119)
• China
3 Feb 10
it seems busy to do like that.i dont have this habit.i would like eating quite and dont do anything.it is easy to effect my epitite.if i work,i often forget anything around me and want to finish quickly in my mind.so i dont hope any interruption.so i do anything.i would like to finish one and next to do another.it is my work and life's rule.
• Philippines
3 Feb 10
Hi Bingchen, So it is one after the other for you. That is good as you have concentration on one thing. You are not distracted with doing another thing while the first one is unfinished. Thanks for sharing!
@grace118224 (1038)
• China
3 Feb 10
I have never done this yet. I think i won't do this if i eat out except i'm very busy with my work or in a very specially quiet restaurant. I enjoy my meals very much and usually i would pay all my attention to my food at meals' time. I don't want to be disturbed by work at all. Actually i don't quite understand while people couldn't have a meal purely.
• Philippines
3 Feb 10
Hi Grace, It is like there should be a time and place for everything, for you. I, too, don't want to be stressed with work that I have to use my personal time doing it while eating. I would like to use my personal time for the purpose. But there may be cogent reasons why some people have to do that even in restaurants. As long as they don't bother me, I really won't mind.
• Philippines
3 Feb 10
I've seen this a couple of times since the malls and restaurants offered free WIFI last year - if not eating taking coffee/desserts. A lot have taken advantage of the freebie internet access. I have not attempted this since I fear that thieves might take advantage and steal your laptop (and have not taken my laptop anywhere).
• Philippines
3 Feb 10
Hi Joseline, It would be nice to enjoy the free wi-fi connection that most of the cafes and restaurants now offer. But carrying the laptop is a bit inconvenient because it is also heavy. You are right, bringing laptops only pose a risk to life. Hold-uppers are easily attracted to them.
@myzire72 (1154)
• Singapore
3 Feb 10
I do use my laptop in a fast food restaurant, but only after I finished my food. I admit that I can be clumsy at times, and doing 2 things at a time like this is difficult for me. That lady could well be doing her urgent report or something similar, which may explain why she is having fast food and working on her laptop at the same time.
• Philippines
3 Feb 10
Hi Myzire, She surely had her reasons. I saw that she was with her child while eating. She had to attend to three different things: eating, using laptop and attending to the son who was also eating. She must be very tight of time to be doing all three together. Maybe she did not have any other time to use the laptop and it was the very specific time to use it.
@wishuluck (233)
• Lithuania
3 Feb 10
I try not to do this.. I spend so much time working on my laptop, even while being at home. While eating i try to enjoy the food and think about something nicem or plan something for the rest of the day.
• Philippines
3 Feb 10
Hi Wishuluck, Welcome to myLot. While working on the laptop, some people wouldn't like to be disturbed. It is just the same way as having our meals. We also don't want distraction and want to enjoy our meals. We both do the same.
• India
2 Feb 10
I also have seen people using laptop while they are eating.I don't get whether they want to show people that they have a laptop or they are too busy that they have no time to eat peacefully.I haven't tried this and will not do as I don't like it this way.If you are eating then at that time we should not do something else as during meal time I don't like to do something else.I have the meal peacefully.
• Philippines
3 Feb 10
Hi Roysudeep, We do have different perceptions upon seeing people using the laptop while eating in public. Most of my friends say they are just too showy for doing it in a place and time not suitable for that. I wouldn't immediately judge them to be so. For all we know, he doesn't have any other time to use it --- maybe he was chatting with someone who can only be available at that time and it was really very urgent. There are a lot of reasons only known to the user. As long as they don't bother me with the use of their laptop, I really don't care.