I'll be starting at Google soon as a SWE, and I need to decide which laptop I want. To any current or former Google employees, what should I pick for my laptop and why? My manager said the team is split 50/50 between Chromebooks and Macs. Current TC: $73000
Pixel book. Anyway you can't install any software on mb. Pixel book can acts as tablet or laptop
What is Santa?
Bro is that even a hard decision? Why would someone pick a chrome book over Mac. Your manager is probably lying. What did he have in the interview?
It doesn't matter. You probably won't be using your laptop to code at all. You will be using your desktop, or remotely accessing your desktop instead. I just keep my work laptop at home for occasional WFH. I picked MacBook because of the larger screen. I refuse to use a laptop that does not have a 15" monitor. The MacBook touchbar is a shitty invention tho.
Touch bar could have been great. What a waste
Wait you don’t code on laptops at google? It’s all desktops?
Honestly, it’s google — if something ain’t working about your tech set-up, you will have 0% difficulty making a change. But really just get the Mac.
Btw, can you get a Windows laptop at G? I haven't used anything but it my entire life
How was your Google interview?
TC of 73k, better go with a Chrome book, Apple products will bankrupt you.
Get the pixelbook. Better battery life, lighter, and functionally the same (your Mac will also only be a browser machine, there's nothing else to run).
You will be able to switch within two weeks if you do not like the device. BTW I picked Chromebook, but definitely request a desktop too (idk why that is called optional on the form, you definitely should have a good desktop).
how is your tc so low
That's my current TC at Northrop Grumman. At Google it will be $169000
What’s your degree and YOE? That is still very low? You in the Bay Area?