Click to viewI had the fortune of being able-bodied to visit both Microsoft ’s Redmond Campus and Apple ’s Cupertino ’s offices within the same week . So , I call up I ’d do a little comparison as to how a visitant perceives and experiences the several headquarters . Both campuses have those generic look technical school worker construction with prominent mirrored glass faces and gray / beige wall . But both have vastly different signage , transportation system and designs . Take this for what you will , and if you want , drag comparisons between ship’s company philosophies and geographics . But before we get started , I got ta say that I honestly got drop off at Microsoft . For an hr .
Before we take off , know that this is not all Microsoft ’s flaw . I gave the cabbie the wrong address at one item , and this was my first clip on campus . Had I arrived on agenda , the night before , I could have gotten a lift by Microsoft shuttle to my final destination , too . Also , Microsoft ’s beautiful redmond HQ is gorgeous and straggling and a testament to the caller ’s size and business leader , so it is also a lot more territory to cover . And the people ? They were so nice and ultimately the key to me finding my route again . But there are a few thing I make love they could do a lot better . I got lost on my own accord , but get hold my way back to the right home was a exploiter experience incubus .
The driver who took me from the airport set down me off at building 32 rather of 99 . That was my error . Getting back on course was really difficult , though . When I mystify to build up 32 , I was confronted with a few very confusing thing . First of all the road signs for each construction are very very low . And each building itself is only labeled by a building phone number and street address which are impossible to read from a car . Too small , and miserable line to the windows .
I got to the threshold and it was labelled push / pull . Confused ? Actually , the signs were both in incised glass , and even though one was reversed and on the other side , my brain read both and fart before I tried both shipway and buzz off inside .
The receptionist called my link mortal and had me sign in . I leave out my inter-group communication somebody ’s name on the weather sheet and she made me meet it out again . Fine . Then I learn the guy next to me signing in with the second receptionist . ( Yes , two at one place . ) He registered yesterday , but the ma’am said the organisation pass over all visitant record after a day . He had to fill out his form a 2nd metre . Dumb .
Just then , an warning signal went off . alternatively of a normal hall , this particular building had pretty blue gates , as in a innovative subway . One individual went in mighty after another without sneak his own badge , and the whole place sounded like a bomb calorimeter shelter .
Next affair I realize is that I ’m at the untimely building . That ’s my fault . So I talk to the receptionist and she say a shuttle number 755 should be get along to drive me over . And makes me do a sign out . I get outside , and the bus comes . And drives flop by me and one other Microsofty trying to get a drive .
Turns out the geeky developer who missed the coach happened to be going to the same piazza . She was late too . “ front , if I do n’t get some assistance , I am give out to get lose again . Mind if I just comply you ? ”
Five minutes afterwards , we catch the next shuttle , and made a path through campus . But candidly , every building looked the same and the roads were wind through these attractively manicured gardens with tall pine tree trees . The signs to building on the side of the road are minor and the sign on the edifice themselves are white baptistry on mirrored / glass windowpane . And small-scale so you ca n’t read them from a railcar on the curb . If the developer did n’t separate me where to get off , I ’d have been miss .
But one time of day from my initial drop cloth off , I got to the correct building . And when I got to the Conference Center I blend into the front door and asked to record at Techfest 2008 as a member of the imperativeness .
Then the receptionist here narrate me I had to go outside , take a right turn and go to the room access on the side of the construction . The first two doors were lock away , but the third opened .
I reckon it was my prosperous day .
Two 24-hour interval subsequently , I found myself at Apple ’s Cupertino Campus . Now , I ’ve been here , before , but I ’ve also never been drop off . Why ? Four reason : The signs are frigging immense for each of the buildings , and the parking lot is always correctly next to whatever building you are trying to get to , there ’s always a person to direct you around to the right place , and most obviously , Apple Campus is built on a ring ( hence the name Infinite Loop ) . If you get lost on a ring , you are an idiot .
Now this might come as a bit of unjust bashing , but this was just one person ’s experience . It ’s not meant to be anything but that . If you ’re extend to absorb any finish , search at the photos and the maps from Redmond and Cupertino and come up with your own .
UPDATE : Apple ’s campus extend beyond the infinite loop campus , andis expanding , so its not cash in one’s chips to be that easy to get around in the future . Again , this is n’t say to be science . interpret the headline .
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