----- How do we spend BTC away from the home computer? Eg at a restaurant?

[AnonMZ]

Ok, to spend it from the home computer where the BTC client is installed is fairly easy. Plug in the address an send it.

But how do you pay with bitcoin at a restaurant that accepts it?
Do we install it on a usb and plug it in the restaurant’s computer? Same with a coffee shop? Grocery store?

It sounds a bit cumbersome. Any other easier/faster was to do it?
Thanks

[EcuaMobi]

Just get a mobile wallet.

Ex: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.schildbach.wallet

[ELLESSD]

could try using your phone....

[Elaine Fairchild]

Seems most people have some smartphone thing. Scan your check and it forks over the cash.

'course, you could always do it other ways. Casascius coins, a store credit balance that you refill from home... plenty of options.

[AnonMZ]

Just get a mobile wallet.

Ex: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.schildbach.wallet

Assuming there are no worries about snooping, forced phone cloning, other surveillance/security issues etc.

That would work. Thank you all for the replies.

Trying to balance security along with convenience…

[styila]

Just get a mobile wallet.

Ex: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.schildbach.wallet

Assuming there are no worries about snooping, forced phone cloning, other surveillance/security issues etc.

Maybe you should store only a small amount of btc in your mobile wallet, and replenish it from your main wallet with better safeguard measures.

[AnonMZ]

I wonder, how would a restaurant, or a coffee shop, handle the confirmation times. Some transactions take over 30 minutes to get the first confirm done let alone 3 or 6 confirms as some suggest.

[EcuaMobi]

I wonder, how would a restaurant, or a coffee shop, handle the confirmation times. Some transactions take over 30 minutes to get the first confirm done let alone 3 or 6 confirms as some suggest.

It's not required to wait for some veral confirmations for such low amounts. Specially if the owner sees the costumer making the payment. The risk is acceptably low.

It just has to include an adequate tx fee.

[Eck123]

Another idea is to get a Bitcoin wallet that is mobile accessible like those at BlockChain.info. They have a smartphone app that links it to your Bitcoin wallet with them. Here in Western Canada there are a few coffee shops that take Bitcoin and even a Bitcoin ATM that seems to work even though the people that run it make a ridiculous profit off it and the exchange. With the online wallet you won't have to worry about waiting for the blockchain to download or anything like that. Just set it up and walk around with it as its always with you to generate the QR codes and check a balance and what not.