Is buying a new Windows laptop for the occasional *remote* work worth it?
As of right now, my in-person training is in-person, with in-person/WFH schedules set up on the group by group basis. Regardless, I'll be remoting through Citrex.
However, I'm currently using Bootcamp Windows on my 2017 13' MacBook Pro. It kind of sucks. I have to use an external keyboard, external speaker, and the multi-monitor support is dodgy. In addition, even though it's remote, I dread the day I go on vacation and don't have all my external accessibilities on me, and only that Apple keyboard with no dedicated ALT key or tactile function keys.
Is it worth paying up for a new laptop, just for the sake of convenience? I could also buy a cheap, shitty CPU, 8 gigs of ram Windows laptop, but I'm not if that affects Citrex remote performance (definitely not, right?) or if I'll ever have the scenario where I need to natively work on my laptop.
It's kind of hard with no guidance from HR (also didn't give us a laptop) or the current analysts, but I'd rather buy a Windows laptop now instead of a week into my job.
You should definitely get a laptop. As a first year your remote work will not be occasional. There will be plenty of times you will need to login remotely before you have gone in or left the office and especially on weekends where you will have to do a quick task which will be way easier with a Windows laptop and not worth it to run all the way into the office for. Especially with how the workplace is evolving id be surprised if everyone wasnt remote atleast 1 day a week moving forward. A few banks have already announced this. Definitely save yourself the pain and just get a new laptop now. Thinkpads are the standard across analysts from what Ive seen and you can get one that will have everything you need that wont hurt your wallet too bad at all.
I guess I'm just curious why a $1,500 Thinkpad will provide any marginal benefits over a cheap $500 ASUS if I'm remoting in? Do specs affect our CITRIX quality? I'm just curious why everyone keep suggesting I need a good laptop if I will be remoting in to my work computer?
It doesn’t make sense to buy an expensive laptop. However I would pay extra to get a lighter laptop.
I'd recommend getting a solid Windows laptop (Dell XPS 13/15, Surface Laptop) and just use that as your personal laptop going forward. It can be also used as a WFH device if needed in the future.
There will be so many times where you have to do work over weekends or late nights or you will go home thinking work is over then someone emails you. It is crucial to have a good laptop. Worth every penny
Why does a good laptop/specs matter if it's all remote through Citrix?
It's just about portability and battery. Obviously from a price/benefit ratio it's better to get a 15.6" which usually carries a better specs + cheaper price but it tends to be heavy to carry around. But you are right any laptop with i7 and 16gb ram could work very well
Good laptop really doesn't matter that much from a specs perspective (good wifi card would help though)
Would focus more on decent hardware such as a good screen and keyboard
Definetly get a Windows. I used to have a Mac and recently changed to a windows laptop and it’s a game changer.
Since you at remoting, there’s no need to get a very powerful/expensive laptop. Just try to get one big big screen (+15”) and keyboard with numpad. This comes handy if you travel or have to do some quick work but are far from your home set up.
I got a cheap Lenovo ThinkBook 15 Gen 2 (15”) AMD and it works great!
Can you not bring your work PC home with you?
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