By Emily Landes

WHEN THE INTERNET boom went bust, a lot of the cheaper Internet providers went with it. But there's no need to settle for outrageous prices when there are still several nice spots in the city where you can e-mail friends or check up on the latest in the Enron saga without dropping a dime. Here's a guide to coffee shops that provide an inviting place to chill, chat, and check e-mail while also taking in some low-cost caffeine (with endless refills!).

Bean Bag Café grinds and brews all of its coffee on the premises. Staffers give out free half-hour Internet gift cards to customers, but you have to bring your own laptop with wireless ethernet card to use it. If the half hour is up, but you still want to surf away, you can buy cards for $2.50 for 30 minutes and $10 for two hours. Mon.-Fri., 6:30 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sat., 8 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sun., 8 a.m.-5 p.m., 601 Divisadero, S.F. Coffee $1.10. (415) 563-3634.

Cup-A-Joe Coffee House might drive your caffeine intake to heights never before imagined with its offer of 15 minutes of free Internet access for every cup of coffee you buy. If you are trying to cut down, you can also pay $2 for every 15 minutes of service. There are three computers at Cup-A-Joe, and there can sometimes be a wait, but the Cup-A-Joe clientele doesn't mind. "People don't come in here all frantic," barrista Stephanie Hutnik says. "It's not a young, hip hangout. It's a relaxing neighborhood café." Mon.-Fri., 6 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sat.-Sun., 7 a.m.-3 p.m., 1901 Hayes, S.F. Coffee $1. (415) 221-3378.

H Café has seven computers available for your typing pleasure and hookups for laptops with network cards. The service is free for the first 20 minutes. After that, it's $2 for every 20 minutes. Mon.-Fri., 6 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sat.-Sun., 6:30 a.m.-8 p.m., 3801 17th St., S.F. Coffee $1. (415) 487-1661.

Kaleo Café complements its indoor waterfall, palm trees, and colorful Hawaiian prints with strong cups of the islands' coffee. There are two computers available at this faux island paradise, but owner and Hawaiian hula teacher Dave Alfici hopes to bring in a third shortly. The DSL at Kaleo is free for 20 minutes if there's a line, but you can surf the Web longer if no one is waiting. Mon.-Thurs., 7 a.m.-10 p.m.; Fri., 7 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sat., 8 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sun., 8 a.m.-9 p.m., 1340 Irving, S.F. Coffee $1.25. (415) 753-2460.

Mission Creek Café opened recently with a new, brighter look that owner Jibz Cameron said is "not as dismal as it used to be" when it was Café Americana. You might feel a bit dismal about the wait for the café's single computer at lunchtime, though. But hey, it's free. Mon.-Sat., 7 a.m.-8 p.m., 968 Valencia, S.F. Coffee $1, refills 75¢ for any size cup. (415) 641-0888.

Notes from Underground is one of the best bargains in town. The refills are free, and so is the unlimited DSL access, assuming you provide the laptop and ethernet cable. Every month the décor in Notes from Underground changes, as new local artists put their work on the walls. Owner Naser Almualla says he feels it's important to support his neighbors. All of the bagels, salads, and Middle Eastern food at Notes come from local sources. Mon.-Fri., 6 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sat.-Sun., 7 a.m.-8 p.m., 239 Van Ness, S.F. Coffee $1. (415) 775-7638.

Oakside Café provides a half hour of free access to those with laptops and ethernet cable, but that can go longer if the shop is empty. Access is available on both floors of Oakside, though people looking to make an afternoon of their excursion should probably head upstairs to the chessboards, books, and magazines provided on the second floor. Oakside is right across the street from the Department of Motor Vehicles, so the clientele includes everyone from hardened DMV inspectors to peppy teens clutching their new permits. Mon.-Fri., 6 a.m.-3 p.m.; Sat., 8 a.m.-3 p.m.; Sun., 7 a.m.-3 p.m. 1195 Oak, S.F. Coffee $1.25. (415) 437-1985.