Why doesn't every company buy developers the best hardware?
I have mixed feelings that the best hardware yields better productivity.I worked with a Macbook Pro, top of the line, with 2 x 24 inch monitors attached, with an ergonomic keyboard and wireless mouse and all that crap.Now I work with a $500 ASUS that doesn't even lit my keyboard, with Ubuntu Linux installed and I'm using it directly (no external monitors or keyboard) since I'm on the move a lot.As far as my productivity is concerned, I still get things done at the same pace. Hardware is not my bottleneck.Of course, this has more to do with my other preferences. I like keeping my toolchain as light as possible. I don't use bloated IDEs, even when working with languages that require an IDE, such as Java. I don't do heavy processing often and when I do, I prefer offloading that work on AWS. I am also proficient with manipulating virtual desktops.As far as startups go, I think that spending money on expensive hardware is not frugal spending. If you're my boss, I would rather prefer a bonus than the latest and shiniest crap -- if I want shiny crap, I can buy it myself while respecting my own priorities.