hi all, will be starting summer internship at a BBIB November this year (australia so different dates). I want to get up to speed on PowerPoint and excel shortcuts but I am currently using a MacBook. Does anyone know what operating system IBs usually use? if it’s windows, should I buy one and start familiarising myself with that OS these next few months? (I’ve had the macbook ~3 years now and it probably will need updating soon so a potential new purchase wouldn’t be a complete waste). thanks for any inputs on this.
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Windows is significantly better due to the keyboard shortcuts, as well as compatability for add-ins such as CapIQ or PitchBook. Ideally, it is best to get a PC computer rather than using a Mac, but if you are on a budget you can use a "virtual machine" to run windows on your mac. Macbooks have a pre-installed app called "Bootcamp" which enables you to run Windows on your computer. There are some good tutorials for this on youtube. It is free to use.
However, its important to note that this is still less convenient than having a PC, and you will still be using a Mac keyboard which has less shortcuts. If you get an external keyboard this will work, but obviously costs you some money.
There are other virtual machines such as "Parallels" which are common as well. I am less familiar with these so I cant speak to them. Morale of the story, it is best to get a PC but there are cheaper workarounds exist.
thanks! is there a particular windows laptop you’d recommend? I’m thinking either surface pro x or surface laptop?(mainly cos surface line is the only windows run computers I’m familiar with) but happy to hear any other suggestions!
Would recommend you check out the ThinkPad series, X series are the premier options, T series also not bad and E series are pretty economic
Lenovo X1 Carbon is elite tier, Dell XPS 15 also solid choice
They use windows. Did you get your offer last year? I thought the recruiting timeline wasn't as accelerated in Australia with recruiting for SA occurring in the same year as the internship.
macs suck
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yeah it was one of those scholarship programs
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I use a Mac. If money is an issue... Your school probably provides VMware Fusion or Parallels for free; if not, VirtualBox is open source and free. You can get a Windows ISO from your school for free most likely, if not, a license key is a few bucks online. A USB windows keyboard should cost you no more than $10 from ebay. Install Windows from the ISO in VirtualBox, allocate 2gb+ of RAM and at least 256mb of video memory, plug in the keyboard, install Office, and you have a decent setup for $30 max.
If money isn't an issue, just buy the Windows computer. Of course, for your internship, you probably will be using Citrix to login, so it really won't matter if you're on a Mac or Windows machine, you'll just be remote viewing a server and doing work there.
thanks! so in your internship, did they not give you a computer to work from but you had to use your laptop to do the work while remote viewing another screen?
In my previous internships, I got a laptop -- but I was doing software engineering and the laptop had to be pretty powerful. Based on reading stuff on this forum, I think that some banks issue laptops, while others expect you to Citrix in from your own. Either way, Mac/Windows shouldn't make a difference (either you are getting a laptop issued if you have a Mac, or you are Citrixing into Windows anyways). But with the corona situation, banks that issue laptops may have trouble doing so (or they could just mail them out).
In any case, I doubt you will be penalized for having a Mac... worst case you might have to buy a keyboard. I doubt the bank will go and make you buy a Windows computer. Also if it helps as a reference point, my bank sent out an email to interns that mentioned both Mac/Windows are fine for the virtual internship.
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