by guynamedloren on 2/11/11, 1:33 AM
This was just... awkward. Don't get me wrong - it's very interesting to see what it's like inside the office of an up-and-coming startup, but it just wasn't what I expected. When I think of startups (or hackers in general) I think of some geeky guys with a dose of rebelliousness - especially Y-Combinator startups. I think of guys who want something more than Big Co has to offer. Guys that are passionate, driven, and motivated. From the video, this isn't the vibe I picked up at all. The employees just seemed weird, for lack of a better word. Maybe they were acting for the camera, but nobody seemed to be doing any
real work, and everybody seemed okay with that. From the artwork to office layout, the company culture almost appeared
forced and unnatural. Am I alone in thinking this?
FWIW, I haven't watched any other "TC Cribs" videos, so I don't want to generalize. Maybe it's just Dropbox. I'm checking out other videos now.
(I may get downvoted for my slightly negative view here, but it is my opinion and I'm sticking with it)
by dmix on 2/11/11, 1:25 AM
I swear it's the Jason's goal to create as many awkward situations while filming these Techcrunch office tours.
He walks into people, unsuccessfully tries walking backwards while talking, missed fist pound etc. It's amusing.
by TomOfTTB on 2/11/11, 1:52 AM
Wow. I don't mean this as negative towards Dropbox at all but I never thought I'd see that level of decadence again. I mean, the Phelan Building (where they're located) is massively expensive (its a 105 year old historic landmark). Custom art on the wall, band rooms, arcade games, free food and all the amenities.
Again no slight intended. If they have the money they might as well enjoy it (I did when I was young and in the same situation). But for a company that had its first release what about 2 years ago they're living large.
The 90s are back after all.
by staunch on 2/11/11, 1:39 AM
I think showing people's workspaces in some real detail would be fun. Everyone loves a cool setup. I don't know a developer that doesn't judge a company in part by how they equip their programmers.
by jonpaul on 2/11/11, 3:17 AM
What I want to know is how these engineers at these startups avoid visual distractions? It seems to me that a lot startups create environments like this. It's clear that Dropbox has the money for cubes/offices. Is it a cultural thing? What gives?
by nickpp on 2/11/11, 11:17 AM
Anybody else watched the whole thing hoping to see people actually working? And how they worked? And where they worked? Desks, computers, OSs, software, hardware, meeting rooms, etc.
No such luck.
Instead, that looked like the tour of a kindergarten: here we dance, here we play, here we sing, here we eat, and the view is great.
by bane on 2/11/11, 2:34 AM
Great tour video. Lots of fun.
But if I were one of the investors, I'd probably be pretty PO'd to see how my money was being spent.
Not since the dotcom boom have I seen that kind of place. Startups seem to want to run kinda lean these days, so they can be more agile. (That's not to say that the folks shouldn't be well equipped, which it looks like they are, but custom artwork and a DDR machine?) And clearly too much floor space for their size. It'd be a far better use of their funds to operate a smaller office, then move when they outgrew it.
It could be worse, the whole place could be full of $900 Aeron chairs.
Oh wait, it was.
by spoiledtechie on 2/11/11, 5:09 AM
I really dislike the fact they as the average developer doesn't get anything like this at all. Its pretty upsetting that companies that are major software companies spend massive amounts of money on their devs, but those companies that aren't fully software could give two craps about their devs. Its just disappointing that I have to work for the latter.
by tobych on 2/11/11, 6:22 AM
Employees in the US work some of the world's longest hours. And yet there these folks are in their office, playing games. Is that typical? I don't get it. Why stay in the office playing games when you could go home? I guess this is the sort of question that, as a generally-self-employed 41-year-old father of a preschooler I'm in no position to figure out. That video weirded me out.
by ilamont on 2/11/11, 1:25 AM
Would have been more interesting to see the Dropbox data center, and get some insights into how they operate and scale it.
by fundible on 2/11/11, 2:07 AM
the red-black tree reference is amazing
by jhuckestein on 2/11/11, 9:20 AM
IMO the recent trend of showing off pimped out startup offices is highly indicative of a bubble. Our startup operates out of a crummy little room, and that's how we like it
by JacobIrwin on 2/11/11, 6:17 AM
I dig the collaborative workspace. Ever seen the office atmosphere of those companies that design consumer products? That is what Dropbox's space reminds me of.
The best part is that Drew isn't enclosed in some corner office. He sits in the open with his team. Big thumbs up.
by ahrens on 2/11/11, 6:03 AM
As a guy with ADD, i would never be able to work at a place like that! I mean do actual work. I would just be too distracted by all the fun things to do. I think many more developers are the same?
Well, cool office though. I am a dropbox user myself and love the service!
by subpixel on 2/11/11, 3:09 AM
TechCrunch as HGTV just doesn't do much for me.
by Keyframe on 2/11/11, 3:06 AM
Why do they need so many people? Customer support?
by xeodox on 2/11/11, 3:12 AM
Awesome office. Dropbox is doing better than ever! I wonder why they just went 1.0 though--they've been around forever.
by anhtran on 2/11/11, 1:55 AM
haha, I like the end.
by profitbaron on 2/11/11, 8:40 AM
It still amuses me how the view is always mentioned before entering the startups office space. Although I have to say that Dropbox's 'Crib' is my favourite TC Crib so far.
by alphadog on 2/11/11, 7:38 AM
That startup looks real lean. </sarcasm>