CYBER-CAFE TO LET CUSTOMERS SIP COFFEE, BROWSE INTERNET.Byline: Melissa Levy Associated Press Associated Press: see news agency. Associated Press (AP) Cooperative news agency, the oldest and largest in the U.S. and long the largest in the world. At Eugene's first cyber-cafe, customers won't find memos banning food and drink near computers. ``I'm sure we'll go through a lot of keyboards,'' said Sandi Lessman, co-owner of the venture that is set to open this summer. ``That's part of the business.'' Cyber-cafes are like rest stops on the information superhighway (1) A generic name for the Internet. (2) A proposed high-speed communications system that was touted by the Clinton/Gore administration to enhance education in America in the 21st century. Its purpose was to help all citizens regardless of their income level. . Patrons can relax with coffee and pastries as they log on to personal computers and exchange electronic mail, search the World Wide Web or play games. Scores of cyber-cafes have sprung up around the globe in recent years. The United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. has 88, the United Kingdom has 55 and Canada has 20, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. an on-line cyber-cafe directory. At Sip n' Surf in downtown Eugene, customers will pay about $6 an hour to digitally access the Internet via high-speed computers. They will be charged up to $10 an hour to use computer games. Computer graphics animators Famous animators no longer living
The partners also want their cyber-cafe to be a social outlet for Internet pros. ``People on the Internet tend to be shy,'' Lessman said. Visiting Sip n' Surf, ``is one way to be more outgoing.'' Lessman and Franssen figure to spend up to $80,000 to be ready for a mid-June opening. They plan to install eight high-end computers and five so-called ``dummy'' computers, text-based systems without hard drives. The duo will manufacture the machines themselves with parts from mail-order distributors. But cyber-cafe veterans warn that it may be difficult for Sip n' Surf to be profitable if the owners put too much emphasis on the computer side of operations. ``You won't make a ton of money renting computers,'' said Robert Torregrossa, co-owner of the Speakeasy Speakeasy - Simple array-oriented language with numerical integration and differentiation, graphical output, aimed at statistical analysis. ["Speakeasy", S. Cohen, SIGPLAN Notices 9(4), (Apr 1974)]. ["Speakeasy-3 Reference Manual", S. Cohen et al. 1976]. Cafe, a cyber-cafe that opened in Seattle in June. He said many of his customers come for the live music or food, and never touch the computers. John Ark, manager of 15-month-old The Habit Coffee Co. in Portland, had similar advice: ``Forget cutting-edge technology. Focus on what people want and use.'' Lessman and Franssen seem to be eschewing the warnings. For example, they are considering offering video conferencing See videoconferencing. (communications) video conferencing - A discussion between two or more groups of people who are in different places but can see and hear each other using electronic communications. and charring Charring is a process of incomplete combustion that often occurs when biological tissue (living or dead) is subjected to heat. The resulting matter is sometimes called char. Coke and charcoal are produced this way. capabilities and virtual reality booths. Sip n' Surf also will have a number of outlets to plug in laptop computers, they said. Sip n' Surf owners insist that their business has the right ingredients for success. In fact, they're already considering an extension on the five-year lease they've signed. Lessman and Franssen said they chose the city-center mall because it is near the University of Oregon The University of Oregon is a public university located in Eugene, Oregon. The university was founded in 1876, graduating its first class two years later. The University of Oregon is one of 60 members of the Association of American Universities. and Eugene's main business district, especially the expanding software firm Symantec Corp. Sip n' Surf hopes to attract downtown business people during their lunch hours and serve as a gathering spot at night on the weekends. ``There's not much to do in the downtown area that stays open late,'' Lessman said. The average evening customer could spend about two hours on-line, Lessman said. The partners are arranging to license computer games for customer tournaments with other cyber-cafes. Franssen added that he's pleased Sip n' Surf will be close to the Eugene Hotel Retirement Center. He claims that older people are becoming more comfortable with the Internet, finding it a good way to communicate with children and grandchildren GRANDCHILDREN, domestic relations. The children of one's children. Sometimes these may claim bequests given in a will to children, though in general they can make no such claim. 6 Co. 16. . CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: (color) James Franssen and Sandi Lessman, working at home in Eugene, Ore., will open the area's first cyber-cafe. Associated Press |
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