This seems like it is because 37signals is a primarily design driven company, while zappos is more of a backend engineering company. The design folks, like the

This seems like it is because 37signals is a primarily design driven company, while zappos is more of a backend engineering company. The design folks, like the article says, are more concerned with a clean presentation and tidy appearance, the programmer style is more concerned with being a place that they can feel is surreal and comfortable enough that they can just work there continuously and feel comfort in the geekiness. That being said, I work squarely in the latter camp and am glad that I don't feel obligated to take part in the corporate sponsored 'whackyness'! Maybe because I don't like feeling obligated to be in the office more, than necessary. I like having random stuff at my desk, but this reeks of Office Space style flair.