The search engine fascinated us even more with "Google Earth," when it zoomed in on exactly where we were, and showed us waving via satellite.
But what really sets Google apart for us is the counterculture it has created. The way they treat their employees -- who they dub "Googlers" -- is how we dream to one day be treated by every person we meet. Mandatory to keep food no farther than 100 feet away? Free commutes to work? Taped up reading in bathroom stalls? They shouldn't have, but did it with a smile. Check out our top 12 reasons we think it would be fun to work at Google after the jump.
Forget "wall of shame." Al Gore visited the offices (also known as "campus") in 2001, and
employee Tan Chade-Meng had his picture taken with him. He then began a "Presidential Gallery" collection of photographs with many of the place's VIP guests on Google's walls.
Linguists recognize "Google"
The word "Google" is voted the most useful word of the year by the American Dialect Society in 2002. Talk about job security.
Pop Culture Google Languages
Our favorite by far? Bork, bork, bork!, a language preference that
translates all of your Google subheads into your favorite Swedish Chef.
Later language developments include Klingon, for the Trekkies.
They came up with this idea in 2004. It's a small kitchen that they
stock with snacks and an espresso machine. Google's founders made it a
rule that no "Googler" should have to go more than 100 feet for food.
Google Commuter shuttles
As if having food at arm's reach wasn't enough of a work perk, Google
also launched a free commuter shuttle between San Francisco and the
"Googleplex." It later grew to service the same area and all eight
transit agencies in the Bay Area.
Google Shops
The employee Google store went global in 2004, but its most popular
products may surprise you. They've sold over 80,000 toys to date,
including 10,472 lava lamps and more than 20,000 yo-yos.
"Testing on the Toilet" (TotT)
Now in most cases, we'd view the bathroom as "private time"
where we wouldn't be caught dead working. But at Google, they developed
"testing on the toilet," wherein software testers post one-page tips and
how-to's inside the doors of bathroom stalls in hundreds of stalls in
30 Google offices. Talk about a fun scavenger hunt.
Their chef, Nate Keller, customized a classic San Francisco ice cream
treat for employees called "It's IT," which is locally-made and with no
trans fats.
Kittens on the Intranet
Googlers have a personal office-based intranet, named Moma. It received an overhaul
and a new homepage gadget was added that shows a new picture of a kitten
whenever a page is opened. Aww.
gBikes
Having to worry about traffic on the way to an important meeting is a drag. And what about parking? Talk about a time suck. Googlers in Mountain View, California use one of 650 "gBikes" to bike to
their meetings. You can spot 'em by an orange flag attached to the
handlebars.
As if the yearly worldwide April Fool's jokes weren't enough, the
Googleplex has a Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton dubbed "Stan," who is often
"attacked" by different plastic creatures like flamingos.
Gardening at Google
There's a vegetable garden in the middle of the Googleplex, which was
planted in partnership with the Growing Connection. Whatever comes out
of it is incorporated into their cafe offerings, adding a real meaning
to reaping what you sow.
