Here are the details of the desk environment at Google back in 2006 – 2008; I believe most of this remains true today on the main Google campus.

Virtually all engineers developed on a Linux desktop with a modified version of Ubuntu, and that’s the default setup provided on your first day. Some Mac users also used Mac Pros in addition to their Linux desktops.

Most engineers used either a Dell 30″ or a two Dell 24″ monitors. Some opted for fancier setups like four Dell 24″ monitors arranged vertically. Some product managers would have the same setup; others would have a single Dell 24″.

Engineers primarily used Macbook Pros and IBM ThinkPads for laptops; a few opted for Toshiba tablets. Since I’ve left, Windows laptops have since been phased out [1], and many engineers and PMs now use Macbook Airs. Engineers mainly used laptops at meetings or for remote development from home. Some engineers used SynergyKM [2] or a physical KVM switch to bridge one set of keyboard, mouse, and monitors across their laptop and desktop.

MacBook Pro 15″ Retina.

Next up, not necessarily in order of use, would be MacBook Air, MacBook Pro 13″ Retina, and Chrome Pixel.

Macbooks are by far the most used.

People who use Chromebooks are increasing (interns get chromebooks)

Lenovo Thinkpads with linux

Haven’t seen any Windows laptop, I heard someone in my team say they tried using windows but it was a pain to configure with all the internal security stuff.

Following the China break-in to the Google network, it was decided that only Mac laptops would be used. There was a large-scale effort to move everyone to a Mac laptop in the view that security would enhanced. (I’ll leave it to others to debate the validity of that initiative.)

So yeah…Macs

Mac by far. Increasingly Chromebooks. Decreasingly windows. Occasional Linux laptops in engineering

Definitely Macs. You have to give a specific reason if you want to request a Windows laptop, and everyone in engineering has their own Linux desktop setup.

What is the desk setup for employees at big technology companies such as Facebook or Google in 2015?



Edmond Lau, former Engineer at Google (2006-2008)

Updated Dec 3, 2011 · Upvoted by Mills Baker, former Product Designer at Facebook (2015-2016) and Kartik Ayyar, former Machine Learning Engineer at Google

Here are the details of the desk environment at Google back in 2006 – 2008; I believe most of this remains true today on the main Google campus.

Virtually all engineers developed on a Linux desktop with a modified version of Ubuntu, and that’s the default setup provided on your first day. Some Mac users also used Mac Pros in addition to their Linux desktops.

Most engineers used either a Dell 30″ or a two Dell 24″ monitors. Some opted for fancier setups like four Dell 24″ monitors arranged vertically. Some product managers would have the same setup; others would have a single Dell 24″.

Engineers primarily used Macbook Pros and IBM ThinkPads for laptops; a few opted for Toshiba tablets. Since I’ve left, Windows laptops have since been phased out [1], and many engineers and PMs now use Macbook Airs. Engineers mainly used laptops at meetings or for remote development from home. Some engineers used SynergyKM [2] or a physical KVM switch to bridge one set of keyboard, mouse, and monitors across their laptop and desktop.

Seating arrangements ranged from open cubicles that fit anywhere from 4-10 people to shared offices with 3-5 people. Almost all the shared offices in my building had glass/transparent walls looking into the hallways. No one really had their own offices (even the VPs were in shared offices of 5 people). There was relatively little privacy in the workspace aside from conference rooms and interview rooms.

Many office chairs, including the ones in conference rooms, were Steelcase Thinks, though employees would often switch to other types of chairs after ergonomic evaluations.

Some offices, particularly of earlier Googlers, were ornamented with complex contraptions, like this office of one my former manager’s [3]:

https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-most-common-laptop-used-at-Google-offices

https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-desk-setup-for-employees-at-big-technology-companies-such-as-Facebook-or-Google-in-2015/answer/Edmond-Lau

https://www.quora.com/What-operating-system-is-used-by-Google-employees