I've been a professional C, Perl, PHP and Python developer.
I'm an ex-sysadmin from the late 20th century.
These days I do more Javascript and CSS and whatnot, and promote UX and accessibility.
I think this is fairly common. A lot of people think that developers only want Macs, and that Macs are the best for all kinds of development.
I lump it in the same category as recruiters confusing Java with Javascript. If someone offered me a Mac, I'd ask them if I could have a different system if I wanted. Maybe I'd choose the Mac, but...
Regardless of what you chose, I don't see this as a "perk". It's not a laptop I can sell, use for any personal purposes or do whatever with it. It's not "my laptop", it's the company's laptop that I only use for business purposes. Shouldn't be considered a benefit for the employee.
I've been a professional C, Perl, PHP and Python developer.
I'm an ex-sysadmin from the late 20th century.
These days I do more Javascript and CSS and whatnot, and promote UX and accessibility.
If you were working felling trees, and the employer said you'd be allowed to use chainsaws and dedicated heavy machinery or, I don't know, a hatchet from Walmart, it'd be an important factor in whether you wanted to take the job.
It wouldn't be your chainsaw and you wouldn't use it for recreational purposes, but on the other hand I'd definitely like to know if what tools I was expected to work with and judge based on whether I got on well with them.
For further actions, you may consider blocking this person and/or reporting abuse
We're a place where coders share, stay up-to-date and grow their careers.
I think this is fairly common. A lot of people think that developers only want Macs, and that Macs are the best for all kinds of development.
I lump it in the same category as recruiters confusing Java with Javascript. If someone offered me a Mac, I'd ask them if I could have a different system if I wanted. Maybe I'd choose the Mac, but...
Regardless of what you chose, I don't see this as a "perk". It's not a laptop I can sell, use for any personal purposes or do whatever with it. It's not "my laptop", it's the company's laptop that I only use for business purposes. Shouldn't be considered a benefit for the employee.
Hmm, I disagree.
If you were working felling trees, and the employer said you'd be allowed to use chainsaws and dedicated heavy machinery or, I don't know, a hatchet from Walmart, it'd be an important factor in whether you wanted to take the job.
It wouldn't be your chainsaw and you wouldn't use it for recreational purposes, but on the other hand I'd definitely like to know if what tools I was expected to work with and judge based on whether I got on well with them.