[vladvasiliu]

A different thing I've seen around Paris is that "traditional cafés" still do exist, with comfy seating and everything, but many explicitly have a "no laptops" policy (complete with signs and everything). Most of them aren't even particularly busy during the day.

Actually, the "cafés" with the most people on laptops around me are Starbucks.

[almatabata]

Do you know why they put up that no laptop rule? Is it to avoid people working or studying there for too long?

[flemhans]

Yes exactly that. Many also used to boast about how they did not have WiFi, although people's own cellphone connections are putting an end to that trend.

[vladvasiliu]

I've always seen the big "NO WIFI" signs as a "polite" way of saying "you're not welcome to work from here".

[vladvasiliu]

I have no idea, I've never actually been in any of those places, just noticed the signs walking by.

I know that establishments like this sometimes don't like people hanging around for too long without buying stuff, so it could be the reason that people would just get a coffee and stay all day. But this is just speculation on my part.