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Is the open office layout dead?

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Re: Is the open office layout dead?

#41

Post by closeparen »

concede_pluto wrote: post #2

It's been over a decade since I had so much as a semi-private office (shared with just one quiet teammate) so I have to say the death of the open office is exaggerated. And all of their workarounds assume a laptop could ever substitute for a desktop with an ergonomic keyboard and a large screen. It's amazing that the escalating competition in pay and perks never seem to include space to get into the zone.

It's amazing when you look at software engineers' value in dollars. If you measured our value in square feet of local real estate, it would be blindingly obvious.

A tech company in a prosperous city can buy you all the 4k Dell Ultrasharps and Macbook Pros a person could want without breaking a sweat. Another couple feet of desk, on the other hand, could turn you from a net creator of value to a net destroyer of value. It's as unaffordable to the company as the salary bump that could put homeownership within reach.

I'd love it if someone would offer me a private office, parking space, and ability to live in a market with closer to median home prices, but the industry is very clearly trending in the opposite direction.

Re: Is the open office layout dead?

#43

Post by strictnein »

sundvor wrote: post #24
strictnein wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've brought my own monitor into work before. Was about to do it with my current role until they finally got me a decent one.

I have my own personal U3415W for my Visual Studio programming. I have brought it up in interviews, if any issues to my bringing it in. (At home I have the Acer X34 Predator. The Dell came first; when I realised how good it was for programming I knew I needed one at work.)

The U3415W is the monitor I finally got at work. It's a nice monitor.

At home I have a Benq bl3201pt, which is a 4k 16:9 monitor. It's nice as well, but does have a flickering issue (one side of the screen will flash every 4-8 hours or even 1-2 days).

Re: Is the open office layout dead?

#44

Post by CamelCaseName »

cm2187 wrote: post #28
thesmallestcat wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Don't give them any ideas, or things will go the other way: Want an external monitor? That'll be $50/month. Access to the supply closet is $10/month.

I would be happy to pay out of my own pocket for a better hardware than the POS I am forced to work with. All the machines are connected with 100Mbit, and we only just switched from Windows XP...

Is it like that for security purposes or are you working with legacy software?

Apart from those two issues, the loss of productivity should so obviously outweigh any possible savings. There must be some explanation.

Re: Is the open office layout dead?

#45

Post by giaour »

lj3 wrote: post #21
davb wrote: post #7

> No designated desks I hate hot desking. I know it's very subjective but when I come into an office for eight hours a day, five days a week, I like to personalise my workspace. I don't drive, I take public transport and walk, and hate carting my laptop and charger around with me. I want my own space, with meeting rooms and collaboration spaces for when I need those things. I may be alone in saying so, but I'd happil…

What if they gave everybody a desk with wheels? Then you can wheel your desk with your tools wherever you want to work that day.

You'll also need movers on staff or on call for employees who can't move their own desks.

It's a cute idea, but making it OSHA-compliant sounds expensive.

Re: Is the open office layout dead?

#46

Post by seanmcdirmid »

cm2187 wrote: post #39
sundvor wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have my own personal U3415W for my Visual Studio programming. I have brought it up in interviews, if any issues to my bringing it in. (At home I have the Acer X34 Predator. The Dell came first; when I realised how good it was for programming I knew I needed one at work.)

How about a 42inch 4K monitor (Philips BDM4350UC). In term of screen real estate it is fantastic.

In terms of PPI, not so great.

Re: Is the open office layout dead?

#47

Post by h3h4 »

thesmallestcat wrote: post #17
cm2187 wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You are not alone!

Don't give them any ideas, or things will go the other way: Want an external monitor? That'll be $50/month. Access to the supply closet is $10/month.

They won't hesitate doing that, after all whole open workspace movement is a cost cutting method on the pretext of increasing collaboration.

Re: Is the open office layout dead?

#48

Post by gerbilly »

closeparen wrote: post #41
concede_pluto wrote: post #2

It's been over a decade since I had so much as a semi-private office (shared with just one quiet teammate) so I have to say the death of the open office is exaggerated. And all of their workarounds assume a laptop could ever substitute for a desktop with an ergonomic keyboard and a large screen. It's amazing that the escalating competition in pay and perks never seem to include space to get into the zone.

It's amazing when you look at software engineers' value in dollars. If you measured our value in square feet of local real estate, it would be blindingly obvious. A tech company in a prosperous city can buy you all the 4k Dell Ultrasharps and Macbook Pros a person could want without breaking a sweat. Another couple feet of desk, on the other hand, could turn you from a net creator of value to a net destroyer of value…

Really, citation please?

I see companies was so much money all over the place that it's a bit hard to believe that assigned desks would be such a hardship for them.

Re: Is the open office layout dead?

#49

Post by barrkel »

cm2187 wrote: post #39
sundvor wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have my own personal U3415W for my Visual Studio programming. I have brought it up in interviews, if any issues to my bringing it in. (At home I have the Acer X34 Predator. The Dell came first; when I realised how good it was for programming I knew I needed one at work.)

How about a 42inch 4K monitor (Philips BDM4350UC). In term of screen real estate it is fantastic.

It doesn't appear to be curved or ultra wide screen.

Re: Is the open office layout dead?

#50

Post by seanmcdirmid »

reificator wrote: post #32
strictnein wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've brought my own monitor into work before. Was about to do it with my current role until they finally got me a decent one.

I bring my own keyboard and mouse. I've considered monitors as well but those provided work well enough for my needs right now.

I've been using my own mechanical keyboards forever. You make a lot of friends with a model M in an open office (suffice it to say, use quieter switches now).
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