Google data center spies on ITSELF: 'Like a boring version of Doom'

Google has drawn back the curtain on one of its US data center complexes, with a Street-View-style tour of its tentacle in Lenoir, North Carolina. One Reg reader described the whole experience as "like a boring version of Doom", and an initial shufti appeared to confirm this analysis: Google data center with empty chair and …

[ElNumbre]

The last picture...

Use main entrance?

As opposed to the back doors?

I would.

[RICHTO]

Re: The last picture...

A bit like Microsoft's Generation 2 datacentres.....(They are now on G4).

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: The last picture...

Ooh, ooh! Can you post us a link to an interactive map on Bing please Steve?

Of course the real burning question is what's inside the racks? I reckon it's actually a huge chinchilla breeding programme and the janitor has only just that minute been down the aisles with the hoover.

[Crisp]

Re: What's inside the racks?

Pigeons. Hundreds of thousands of pigeons.

[RICHTO]

Re: The last picture...

I can do better than that, AC - here is the video! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPnoKb9fTkA

[Tinker Tailor Soldier]

Re: The last picture...

Yeah, because I am sure that Microsoft totally dominates in data centers and online services.... oh wait...!

[RICHTO]

Re: The last picture...

Yes - like Outlook.com / hotmail (324 million users), Skype (250 million users) Xbox Live (40 million users), Office 365 (25 million users), etc. etc. you mean?

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: The last picture...

RICHTO fails the Turing test, again.

[Anonymous Coward]

Rickroll!

Notice the propellerhead is being Rickrolled by his monitor and laptop?

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: Rickroll!

lol - hadn't caught that. Good stuff : )

[ukgnome]

'Like a boring version of Doom'

It's my quote!

Lester, you have made my day

[Mark C Casey]

Re: 'Like a boring version of Doom'

Now that you're famous remember all us little folk. And don't let your ego take charge, many a star has fallen because of ego.

[ukgnome]

Re: 'Like a boring version of Doom'

Lulz - I will always be a pleb

[GrumpyJoe]

Last photo

now has a blurred face - obviously feeling a little guilty about all those snacks...

[jonfr]

Re: Last photo

She in charge of the street view pictures. It is obvious that she is. Since here face is the only one blurred in this picture set. Other faces continue to be un-blurred when this is written.

[Chris Sake]

Patent war(ines)s

Are the boomerangs in the photos right-angled to avoid a patent infringement with a certain fruity corporation?

Inquiring minds want to know.

[Anonymous Coward]

Looks more like Ikea on the last day of the sale.

[Anonymous Coward]

Is that C3P0 really small.....

....or just far away?

[Dave 126]

Re: Is that C3P0 really small.....

I dunno, where's a priest when you need one?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vh5kZ4uIUC0

Of course, you've neglected the possibility that the Stormtrooper is really big or really close up...

[Isendel Steel]

Re: Is that C3P0 really small.....

Shame on you - it's an R2D2

[Irongut]

Re: Is that C3P0 really small.....

3PO is not the droid you're looking for.

That's R2, dumbass!

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: Is that C3P0 really small.....

It must be staggeringly far away, as I can't see it at all.

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: Is that C3P0 really small.....

Isn't that guy a bit short for a Storm Trooper?

[Danny 4]

Re: Is that C3P0 really small.....

Maybe that's a normal R2D2 but the stormtrooper and front door are very, very large. Presumably so all Google's big nobs can get through...

[toxicdragon]

Re: Is that C3P0 really small.....

In front of the storm troopers foot flubjub

[Anonymous Coward]

Take a look past the Stormie and there is a Pharmacy :D

[John 104]

Datacenters

Are pretty much that boring. Seen one....

[NomNomNom]

is this that area 41 place where they kept the ufos?

[Anonymous Coward]

Segway? Nope

"... there were actually a few people knocking about when the spymobile, or more likely an Orwellian snoop Segway, came calling."

Crew or Equipment Visible:

Pan way down on at least some shots (such as the one inside the main entrance, where you can see through the metal detector) and it's possible to see the legs of the tripod.

(Been spending way too much time on IMDB lately)

[Anonymous Coward]

Reminds me of Stepford Wives 1975

... ever so slightly evil.

[Anonymous Coward]

Doom in the googleplex, that's an idea..

I would LOVE google to turn their streetview maps into a FPS...

Sure it would take some processing to turn them into true 3d maps, but not impossible..

They have the CPU power....

[JetSetJim]

Re: Doom in the googleplex, that's an idea..

There's an app that turns Google maps into a driving game (released by Mini) - but it's overhead only.

[yoinkster]

you've missed many of the other cool easter eggs.

That computer screen you see (not the one's rickrolling us) has a graph for the SUPER SECRET PUE PLAN.

There's a caged, waving Android. There's a notice on a notice board saying "WARNING THIS NOTICE HAS SHARP EDGES DO NOT TOUCH". They've got those kids foot scooter things and a parking bay for them next to the caged Android. Can't remember the rest but there's so much hilarity in it, thoroughly recommend anyone having a quick walk through.

[Michael Wojcik]

A funny notice? Scooters?!!

I don't think I could take that much hilarity.

[ed 8]

Go outside

It seems the poeple highlighted in the article have now been blured however If you go to the top of the stairs then down and outside you can go around the facility on the roads. Then there are about 20 people stood in hut/shelter with no face bluring at all!