Imagine that you have your laptop in hand, and just stepped into your friendly neighborhood Starbucks cafe. What's the first thing you do? Well, look for a seat, of course. And believe it or not, there are tips for looking for a seat when you want to settle down to using your laptop in a cafe.
 

Look for a good seat when computing in Starbucks
 

I'd say try to look for a table that is tucked always in a corner - away from the counter, and away from bright windows. That way, you can work on your laptop without people peering at your screen, or having sunlight giving you heat and glare.

Also, an important thing is to find a seat near a power socket. That way, you can charge your laptop if it runs out of juice. If necessary, ask the staff it is ok to use the power socket to charge your laptop (I usually don't ask though).

Now, now it's very rude to just plonk yourself down in a seat and just start working or surfing on your laptop. Remember, this is Starbucks and its a cafe business. People need to earn money. So be nice and go over to the counter and buy a coffee, a biscotti or some other snack. Please don't just sit there, use your laptop and not order anything. You will get disapproving looks very soon - and yes, especially from me.

Now, just because this is the Starbucks you know and love, does not mean it is safe to just leave your laptop alone and go someplace else. After all, this is still a public place and there are can be crooks around. So remember to secure your laptop if you need to step away, or ask the barista to look after it for you for a while (they'll do it if you ask nicely).
 

Always take care of your laptop while in a cafe
 

Another point regarding safety - please, please don't place your Americano or Frappucino neat your laptop keyboard! One mistake or one bump and you will have one very wet - and very inoperable - laptop.

This tip is quite obvious and applies whether you are at a cafe or not. Always bring along an external mouse if you plan to work at Starbucks for a long time. If you don't have a mouse and you're using the touchpad or trackball on your laptop - you will soon end up with cramped fingers.

It's enticing to just sit there and not move, pounding away at the keyboard while you enjoy your cuppa coffee. However, it makes good sense to just get up and stretch from time to time. You don't want your legs to cramp and you need to loosen those muscles regularly.