Coffee places with free wireless:
1. Waves coffee house: Main st. & 10th ave. I think they're even open 24 hrs. Lots of space with lots of power outlets, fast connection.
2. The Grind, Main st. & 41st. Wireless sometimes has technical problems there. Big tables, 24 hrs.
3. Blenz on Robson & Bute. About 6 outlets, fast connection.
4. Blenz on Burrard across from HMV. Only 2 or 3 outlets, always packed.
5. Coffee shop on Burrard (same side as Denny's) half way between Davies and Robson. Many power outlets.
6. Coffee shop next to Future Shop in Metrotown area. A few power outlets, but comfortable place, usually quiet. Not open late at night.
7. PC games room near Future Shop in Metrotown area. If you can stand the noise of games, it's a good place with a very fast connection. Open till about midnight. Will let you use your own laptop and even their ethernet or wireless. Not free ($2/hr).
Best thing to get is Rogers' Portable Internet service. You get a portable modem, and you can connect from anywhere (you don't need someone else's wireless connection). The portable modem is the size of an average slim textbook and picks up a wireless signal from a Roger's cell tower. The speed is a full 10Mbps and very very little congestion if any. I use this to work at Tim Horton's, restaurants, campers, anywhere I can get a power outlet. I'll be camping with it this summer.