Google OS on its way!

Finally the much talked about, hyped Google Operating System has been announced and it would be in market in a year's time. I remember numerous times people asked me "Google is launching its OS, right?" and when I you used to give them an amused look they used to feel that I am just keeping it confidential. I used to say that Google is a web based company and will not enter into desktop operating system. Well, I was partly right in saying that.

The new Google Chrome OS is a lightweight OS that would be designed majorly for the notebooks to run the web browser and web based applications. The best thing about it is that it would be open source which will result a huge developer community building applications on top of it which will soon make it popular. Definitely, it would be a great product for the users who just work on internet most of the time and rarely use their desktop for any other purpose. Its going to be fast, more secured, easy to use and obviously damn cheap compared to the existing Operating Systems.

But the question is if this OS would be able to challenge the No.1 in the market. Its definitely a threat for Microsoft but we still need to see how big. To make Chrome OS popular, we need to make internet even more powerful such that users dont need their desktops at all. Hopefully, this OS would provide that platform to create more user friendly web based applications which would make the costlier desktop hardwares and softwares useless. Cloud computing will definitely play a very big role in this.

Congrats Google! Way to go!!

Xoogler's journey in the B School

Many people have been constantly asking me if it was a right decision to leave Google and join MBA. The count of such people was low when I have just joined IIMB because only doubt they had in mind was if I wasn't happy at Google; some where like what more do you expect than Google - it has an excellent work and culture. But as the economy plunged into recession and it started effecting job markets everywhere not even sparing the best B schools across the globe, the count of such people increased. Even when I wasn't thinking about this at all, they were constantly questioning me and trying to make me realise that this was the biggest mistake in my life till now.

I don't know if this was a right decision or wrong. As Steve Jobs say: "you can only connect the dots looking backwards". I am still only half a MBA and I had spent only one year at Google. So, at both the places I dont think results should be used for comparison. I won't like to see it from the point that I became a team lead in Google in just 6 months but wasn't one of the toppers in MBA.

If, any day I have to compare between these two places, I can just compare the experiences there and even then I would never say that one was much better/worse than other. Both the places had their own pros and cons. They were similar in many aspects - I had to meet deadlines at both the places, both the places gave me ample freedom to do what I want. If Google gave me 20%, IIMB gave me choice of electives and obviously all the time after the classes to do what I want.

Both gave me ample opportunities to learn. I learnt a lot about the corporate culture and one of the best at Google. I learnt how to behave professionally, how to conduct meetings, how to orgnaise and prioritise my tasks, how to do the perfect time management, how to meet my deadlines, how to work in a team, how to motivate my team, how to achieve the desired results and most importantly how to play foosball. I guess after coming to IIMB, these learnings continued and actually took the next bigger step. All these professional learnings were honed more when I was working as a member of the placement team and was interacting with companies. I learnt more and more about team work and time management when I was working in so many teams to complete my projects along with managing the studies and placecom tasks.

Both the places gave me an exposure to the outer world with small international stints. Its a different learning experience all together to go outside and work with people of different culture but similar objectives. Also, its much more exciting and you really enjoy a lot visiting so many places in such a short time. Not to forget both the places gave me many friends and contacts which will always be helpful to me wherever I go.

I have never limited my learning at IIMB to only academics and I think that was only possible because I came after a little industry experience which taught me that all these things do not matter in the long term. Because of this I was able to focus on other things which I liked doing. I was able to analyse the long term benefits of many things which were not giving me any short term benefits at IIMB. I am glad that I didn't lose the motive with which I entered into IIM.

I am no financial expert and I dont know when this recession will end and I dont even want to take any guess or make any hypothesis here. I would not mind if I get a lesser paying job from IIM. I never came here with the astronomical figures in mind. I came here to achieve my long term goals. Since, I would be achieving them in long term only, they are insulated from the recessions of the world. So again I wont like to compare these places with their end results in the short term but definitely I would like to cherish the experiences that I have gained here.

As somebody has rightly said, "Enjoy the journey, enjoy every moment, and quit worrying about winning and losing." So, I strive to enjoy the journey and not the destination.

Sweet memories@Google

Last week my team gave me and Akshay a farewell party as we are heading to IIM B. It was a very sweet gesture on their part and I thank one and all for that evening. During the dinner, some of them asked me to share some of my sweet memories at Google. Initially I thought it to be a very simple question to answer but when I started answering, it got very tough. Its not like I do not have many sweet memories there, but I had so many that it took a long time in scanning all of them and shortlisting only a few for sharing at that moment. It was then, that I thought of writing a blog for the same. So, here it goes:

As I go into the flashback, I can still clearly remember the first day. The feeling of going to “the best company to work for” (Fortune) was great. My cab came a little late to pick me up and when I reached Google, the induction had already started. The receptionist told me that its going on in Mumbai. For a moment, I was shocked, how will I get to Mumbai now. Then I learnt that its just the conference room name. The naming conventions of rooms and printers (based on city names, lakes, cartoons, movies and stars) is really cool and something which I would always remember. And believe what, the induction wasn't so boring as in other companies and was over in just a few hours. I got a laptop too, my first one and a goodie bag which had a T-shirt and a cool noogler cap with a fan on its top. I also got two 24" monitors which were looking so huge and I felt like watching movies on them instead of coding. The way other engineers were coming and greeting me, I was already feeling at home. They helped me in adjusting at Google soon enough by providing assistance whenever required. The manager gave me an overview of all the work that we were doing in Hyderabad(though he could have just told me about my project). I loved this openness and trust amongst the Googlers

Having the first popcorn on the bean bag, making maggi, enjoying coffee day express, munching all kind of snacks and chocolates for the entire day, help in foosball from other pro players were some of the things which attached me to Google and Googlers. And how can I forget the most important part: free meals which were wonderful. They had everything in lunch: North/south indian, chinese, italian, subway, salad bar, fruits, soups, deserts, blah-2. That was simply amazing and soon I gained a few pounds which was like a dream come true (you should see my college pics to understand this :P)

Then was the chance to see the dreamland: Google MTV(Mountain View) office. The feeling of stepping out of India for the first time was great. Got to see the beautiful Singapore on my way. Got a wonderful team and learned the pair programming art in MTV. I got a chance to pair with one of the smartest brains of the world: a guy who was world champion in rubix and had been coding since the year I was born. Others were also great and it was a tremendous learning experience( can write a complete blog on this itself). And yea I even had the much heard about Google onsite massage. It was so soothing that I was able to work till 2 am in night on that day without any complaints of head/back ache.

Then one day I went to the main buildings of Google; saw Larry and Sergey's cabin. I was also thrilled and excited to see the cabins of Orkut and some of the great Googlers(Google fellows). I could feel something different in the air and felt like working there for my entire life. Also, did I tell you that I got a chance to talk to Sergey face to face(though for just a minute) and also saw our CEO and Larry many times over. It was really a wonderful feeling to hear the company updates along with Sergey's PJs and some beer in TGIF. I loved the trust shown by the senior management on each and every Googler. The greatest learning in one year from Google was not any technology or language but the organizational behavior.

I also had a blast outside the office, went to so many beaches, mountains, valleys, Los Angeles that my picasa album was full of them. I loved driving there, had some beautiful scenic drives and went upto 80 mph on some freeways. I loved the Indian food there and of course Starbucks was the best. The trip also gave me some wonderful friends for life time. I must say it was a nice team building exercise :). To summarize, it was a wonderful lifetime experience and got to learn a lot from the US people: to be organised and patient(was evident in their driving itself).

Life at Hyderabad office was also fun. We loved the transition to the Google building. It's beautiful. To add to the colors, we had the cube decoration competition which was complete fun. Decorating the cubes as jungles, islands, villages, bars etc and showing all our engineering creativity was a good change.

Coming to offsites and parties. The offsite to Goa and Dandeli was too good and deserves another blog itself. Loved the first time rafting, trekking and water sports. We still tease Rahul for the wonderful dramas he did during all of this. The picnic party and rock night with Atif rocked!!

When I think of all this, I really feel nostalgic. I am sure I am gonna miss the fun of pair programming and the close foosball games. I am gonna miss the humorous Hindi phrases from Krishna and Sachin. I am gonna miss the leg pullings and the bumps for any and every reason. I am gonna miss my daily papaya servings and numerous dish choices in all the three meals. I am gonna miss the excitement that I used to get on learning about the latest Google inventions before the rest of the world. I am gonna miss the learnings from my peers and managers. I am gonna miss this lavish work environment and working with the smartest people of the world who have perfected the art of not being Evil.

I just wish that I continue being Googley!!

Waiting . . . .

It was around in february when I applied for Google through one of my friends friend. He gave me and that my profile is good enough and hopefully I would get a telecon from the Google guys. I waited for a few days then. But when I didnt receive any communication from their, I lost the hope and stopped waiting and I though this chapter is closed here itself. But suddenly one day in April after (approx 2 months) I received a call from the Google HR and she said that they would like to take me in their process. It was a sudden surprise for me, but took it as a blessing in disguise. Disguise...why so!!because I was loking for a change and wasn't able to figure out where else to apply after I got an offer from MS.
She said me that if shortlisted, I would get an email and would receive a telecon from Mt. View. Though I didn't get any such mail but yea one night I did get a call from Mt. View at around 11 in the night. It was a total surprise for me and I didnt get any time for getting nervous or tensed, forget about the prep for this huge interview. But thank God it was very simple and I faired well. (Though later I learnt that the first one was simple for everybody).
Well I cleared this round and now it was the time to go to Hyderabad and visit the much talked about Google Office. I wont say it Campus because it wasn't. It was just one floor in a building. But the moment you enter inside you can sense that all the hype about it wasnt false. The Google T-shirts worn by almost evrybody were fascinating. For the first time I did an electronic signature and signed a Non Disclosure agreement befor entering the campus with a slip pasted on my pocket.
Had a lunch straight away and the cafeteria was cool with all kinds of eatables. Baskets full of fruits, fridge full of juices, milk, soft drink cans. The cubicles were a little small and congested though.
Had 4 rounds of my interviews and quite unexpectedly I was doing well in them.
After that the sweet HR- Anuradha had a chat with me after a wonderful lunch which had a huge variety of food: 5-6 kinds of salad, 3 types or rice,curd, some south Indian dishes(didnt like this part:(), fruits and yea Subway sandwiches. Anuradha told me that they would still take a lot of time in getting the final results and I started counting the days from that day onwards(oops!! I forgot to tell that this was May 11, 2007). So, in the meanwhile I could be just hopeful with a Google T-shirt(which was a small gift from their side) packed in my cupboard which I decided to wear on the day I get some final answer from their side.
After returning back, the painful period of waiting started. On monday I came to know that Krishna(the M-Tech guy from IIT B whom i met in my room in the guest house arranged by Google)had got a personal info form. That was an indication from their side" Dude, you have finished the technical rounds and we are considering you further but still dont start partying as you stand more chanes to be rejected than selected"...sounds weired na but it happens. It took me even one more week to receive this indication and in the middle of that waiting period I again started having a very strong feeling that my dream is again going away from me though I was still having a bright hope in deep of my hearts and at last I received this form on May 21. As I didnt want to delay my processing further I filled up the form and mailed it back on the same day, whereas Krishna took 3 days for the same :P.
The waiting period after this was the most painful. I knew that I had got an indication that I have cleared the technical rounds but as stated earlier their was equal probability of being rejected even now. To add upon my anxiety, Krishna got an offer after two days along with this other fellow batchee. My anxiety has got worse now. I mailed to Hr, no response from her side. Even tried calling her up, but no response. Everyday, their has been hardly any moment when I am not thinking of all this and then analyzing both sides of coin: what if I dont get thro :( and what if I really get through:). Going thro the biggest suspense period of my life. I have waited for the results in the past also, but that time I could judge how I have done, what I deserve and thus I could approximate what would i get. But here, I know how I have done but I dont know anything else. I have done my part of performing and whats left on my part is wait...wait...wait...!!!.