Here at Apple HQ...

[Chip NoVaMac]

Take Caltrain from SF to the Sunnyvale stop. Apple's campus is 3.5 miles directly south of the stop, off of Sunnyvale Saratoga Road. There's probably a bus that will get you pretty close.

Thanks. Cabs available at the Sunnyvale stop?

I see driving from SFO is like 35 minutes according to Yahoo. From downtown SF (Union Sq.) how long is the trip overall?

Thanks for the help.

EDIT: Sorry, but those of us on the East Coast the trans system in the SF can be a BIG mystery on how to get around. So many options (BART, CALTRANS, the Muni (and all their options) - all without a central planning point other than 511 (but then you need to know each system).

 

[WildCowboy]

Thanks. Cabs available at the Sunnyvale stop?

I see driving from SFO is like 35 minutes according to Yahoo. From downtown SF (Union Sq.) how long is the trip overall?

Thanks for the help.

EDIT: Sorry, but those of us on the East Coast the trans system in the SF can be a BIG mystery on how to get around. So many options (BART, CALTRANS, the Muni (and all their options) - all without a central planning point other than 511 (but then you need to know each system).

Yes, transit in the Bay Area is ridiculous...something like 26 separate transit systems. Driving from Union Square to Apple would probably be a little under an hour if you avoid rush hour...considerably longer during rush hour. (Also note that the Bay Area is very decentralized and so rush hour delays are often in the opposite direction you might think they'd be in.)

As for Caltrain: From Union Square, you'll have to take a bus (probably 30 or 45) to the Caltrain station at 4th and King Sts. That's a good ten minutes. (Note that the Caltrain station is near almost nothing except the baseball stadium...there are plans to extend the line under the city to a more central location...give us a decade or two.) Then you take Caltrain to Sunnyvale. Plan ahead to take the right train...not all trains stop at Sunnyvale. The run takes about an hour and 15 minutes...check the Caltrain site for timetables. Then you have to get to the Apple campus. Santa Clara County's bus system (the VTA) should get you there, but now that I think about it, I think Apple and Sun co-sponsor a free shuttle to the tech campuses in that area during the morning and afternoon commute times. Technically, you may have to be an employee to use the shuttle, but as I recall, no one ever asks for ID. On-demand cabs from Sunnyvale are not likely, but I could be wrong about that.

 

[Chip NoVaMac]

Yes, transit in the Bay Area is ridiculous...something like 26 separate transit systems. Driving from Union Square to Apple would probably be a little under an hour if you avoid rush hour...considerably longer during rush hour. (Also note that the Bay Area is very decentralized and so rush hour delays are often in the opposite direction you might think they'd be in.)

As for Caltrain: From Union Square, you'll have to take a bus (probably 30 or 45) to the Caltrain station at 4th and King Sts. That's a good ten minutes. (Note that the Caltrain station is near almost nothing except the baseball stadium...there are plans to extend the line under the city to a more central location...give us a decade or two.) Then you take Caltrain to Sunnyvale. Plan ahead to take the right train...not all trains stop at Sunnyvale. The run takes about an hour and 15 minutes...check the Caltrain site for timetables. Then you have to get to the Apple campus. Santa Clara County's bus system (the VTA) should get you there, but now that I think about it, I think Apple and Sun co-sponsor a free shuttle to the tech campuses in that area during the morning and afternoon commute times. Technically, you may have to be an employee to use the shuttle, but as I recall, no one ever asks for ID. On-demand cabs from Sunnyvale are not likely, but I could be wrong about that.

Thanks for the help. It was a nice thought on my part. What I thought might be a 4 to 6 hour round trip sounds like a "day at work". Thinking now that staying in SF and dealing with the cable cars, buses, the Muni, and BART - might just be enough for the weary traveler.

Man, I thought we were screwed in the DC area about mass transit. Just going to the Muni site was enough for me to want to rent a car and take my chances on parking.

 

[devilot]

Man, I thought we were screwed in the DC area about mass transit. Just going to the Muni site was enough for me to want to rent a car and take my chances on parking.

What about one of those "Cityshare" car thingies? If you could just "rent" one for the day there aren't really any parking issues down here in the south bay. Parking is only bad in a "real" city... a more, urban/centralized city. Even downtown San Jose isn't all that bad.

 

[Chip NoVaMac]

What about one of those "Cityshare" car thingies? If you could just "rent" one for the day there aren't really any parking issues down here in the south bay. Parking is only bad in a "real" city... a more, urban/centralized city. Even downtown San Jose isn't all that bad.

Thanks, great tip. These cars by the hour (at least in the DC area) makes good sense for someone like me wanting to do a quick trip in and out to somewhere like this.

 

[devilot]

Thanks, great tip. These cars by the hour (at least in the DC area) makes good sense for someone like me wanting to do a quick trip in and out to somewhere like this.

So are ya' gonna do it?! Gonna check out the ever-so-special Company Store? Muahaha... I should just camp out there; eventually, I'd see all of you MR-ers. MRerettes!

 

[XIII]

How'd you get to go inside? I was too scared to even try. And how'd you get a tour? Did you email ahead of time and get a tour set up or something? And freebies?! I would not mind some of those purdy stickers.

I got a tour and got to go inside, because a relative of mine works there. Was very cool, but I don't think they offer general tours to the public. The freebies were from people who my relative works with, who found me stuff.. Games, t shirts, software.

 

[XIII]

What does his office look like? What kind of computer was he using?

All you see from inside the campus is his window to the office. Basically, there are all the buildings in a circle around the parky area in the middle (apart from the iPod division, which I completely seperate). One of the buildings is administration and the reception, and Steve has an office right at the top of that building, overlooking the parky area. All I saw was him sitting in a chair with his back to the window. Biiiggggg office though.

 

[steve jr.]

Any chance you could spot it in any of the pictures that you took while on the inside (of the outside commons (grassy area))? or a building number? If I had to guess I would say 2, 3 or 6 because they are the only ones that have unmarked signs. Just a black sign and a number. hmmm.

Try and remember so future of us that go there know where to look

 

[XIII]

Its the building with the main entrance and reception in. You can only see his office from inside the campus.

 

[devilot]

I got a tour and got to go inside, because a relative of mine works there. Was very cool, but I don't think they offer general tours to the public. The freebies were from people who my relative works with, who found me stuff.. Games, t shirts, software.

Sigh. You are so lucky. Apple freebies... 500 times better than other freebies. Ok, I dunno, winning free concert tickets is pretty darn awesome, too.

 

[mcarnes]

Major droolage!

 

[FadeToBlack]

That's awesome!

I'd REALLY like to go in that company store! I just searched eBay to see if I could find a mouse pad like that, but I couldn't find any. Maybe one will turn up one day?

I really, really want to go the Apple Campus now! (As if I didn't before. )

 

[Chip NoVaMac]

So are ya' gonna do it?! Gonna check out the ever-so-special Company Store? Muahaha... I should just camp out there; eventually, I'd see all of you MR-ers. MRerettes!

LOL. Not sure yet. My dance card is getting pretty full with places to see and things to do. Just read about a hill in the Castro District that offers some great 360 views of the San Francisco skyline. Might go up there at sunset/dusk for some great picture opportunities. Also want to photograph the Fog City Diner at night (hopefully with some fog ).

I do plan on trying to hit the "mother" store in downtown SF though.

 

[iBlue]

That's awesome!

I'd REALLY like to go in that company store! I just searched eBay to see if I could find a mouse pad like that, but I couldn't find any. Maybe one will turn up one day?

I really, really want to go the Apple Campus now! (As if I didn't before. )

the missing bite (missingbite.com) has mouse pads like that, BUT they are really awful in my opinion. it has this disgusting sticky buttom, it's too slippery and WAY too thin or at least so I think. I ended up exacto knifing out another mouse pad and gluing it to the bottom of that one to give it some "fluff" and traction without sticky crap on it. nothing I can do about the slippery surface though. it looks cool, it just sucks to use.

maybe there are better ones out there, I just haven't found them yet.

 

[corywoolf]

i am so upset, I was there 2 years ago and didn't know they had a store there. I snapped a bunch of pics too. I made my dad drive 2 hours out of the way just to stand outside the building!!!

 

[Chip NoVaMac]

i am so upset, I was there 2 years ago and didn't know they had a store there. I snapped a bunch of pics too. I made my dad drive 2 hours out of the way just to stand outside the building!!!

The comment I have is "woof" - in a very positive way.

 

[FadeToBlack]

the missing bite (missingbite.com) has mouse pads like that, BUT they are really awful in my opinion. it has this disgusting sticky buttom, it's too slippery and WAY too thin or at least so I think. I ended up exacto knifing out another mouse pad and gluing it to the bottom of that one to give it some "fluff" and traction without sticky crap on it. nothing I can do about the slippery surface though. it looks cool, it just sucks to use.

maybe there are better ones out there, I just haven't found them yet.

Ahh, that sucks that those mouse pads aren't that great. I've actually had this same mouse pad that I'm using nearly 5 years, so I'll probably stick with it.

 

[paleck]

LOL. Not sure yet. My dance card is getting pretty full with places to see and things to do. Just read about a hill in the Castro District that offers some great 360 views of the San Francisco skyline. Might go up there at sunset/dusk for some great picture opportunities. Also want to photograph the Fog City Diner at night (hopefully with some fog ).

I do plan on trying to hit the "mother" store in downtown SF though.

The last time I was there I got a pretty good 360 shot from the pedestrian bridge by pier 39. Let me know if you want to see it.

 

[Chip NoVaMac]

The last time I was there I got a pretty good 360 shot from the pedestrian bridge by pier 39. Let me know if you want to see it.

Would always like to se good photos.

 

[paleck]

Would always like to se good photos.

Warning 5.3M
If you look closely there is a "ghost" in the image.....OK...now I can't find it so disregard

Got a taste for photography a couple of years ago after my roommate brought back pictures of a panoramic he took from a hiking trip.

 

[Sharewaredemon]

Warning 5.3M
If you look closely there is a "ghost" in the image.....OK...now I can't find it so disregard

Got a taste for photography a couple of years ago after my roommate brought back pictures of a panoramic he took from a hiking trip.

I doubt anyone will recognise this, but that picture you took, where you are standing was the model for part of a level in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4.

The San Francisco level.

I found some pictures.

Sorry about the small sizes, that's how big there were where I found them.

 

[Chip NoVaMac]

Warning 5.3M
If you look closely there is a "ghost" in the image.....OK...now I can't find it so disregard

Got a taste for photography a couple of years ago after my roommate brought back pictures of a panoramic he took from a hiking trip.

Thanks for sharing. Boy the Embarcadaro (sp?) sure has changed since 1996! Walked the length from near the Oakland to the Wharf on my first day there back in 1996.

 

[XIII]

Major droolage!

Hehe, looks familiar. BTW, I'll be in CA, and therefore obviously Cupertino, again soon. I'll try take some pics from inside the campus..

*Gasps*

 

[CiBoys]

i am so upset, I was there 2 years ago and didn't know they had a store there. I snapped a bunch of pics too. I made my dad drive 2 hours out of the way just to stand outside the building!!!

i wish that G5 could be my wallpaper for my room