Which windows laptop should I get to prepare for IB

Hi! I am in my last year of university and want to get prepared for working in finance and get used to using widows and Excel. Since I will be provided with a computer I don't want to buy anything too expensive but still something that is capable to handle large excel files. Any recommendations ?

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I’ll shoot since nobody else will give you a straight answer. My $0.02 as someone who has built a computer and who is also on the market I need a personal PC and I haven’t gotten one since college (12+ years). 
 

I’ve landed on a loaded Dell XPS 13 for myself and the family. Capable of working at a docking station and powering multiple monitors but portable enough to travel with. 
 

If you don’t want to spend $1800+, I’d look at Dell’s Inspiron line or Lenovos Thinkbook line. There may be other brands that hit the top of the charts every year or two but there’s a reason most corporations use these. They’re reliable and well built and can be spec’d as powerfully or inadequately as your budget allows. 
 

Get an i7 processor, at least 16MB of RAM, and at least 512GB SSD. That should be enough to do whatever you want and future proof you with a laptop that will last a long time. 

 

And over here I feel like an asshole because I wing 99% of the things I do

 

No, no, you don't understand. I actually forgive you for having a normal perspective here - but let me explain:

OP wants to spend thousands of dollars on a windows OS laptop so he can PRACTICE (yes, practice!) excel shortcuts and the like in his spare time.

I know.... ridiculous 

OP: go get some fun and enjoy your life, please...

EDIT: 'p*ssy' (female reproductive organ) has been changed to 'fun' by mods or whatever

 

Save your money and do your pre-training modules on your current laptop. You'll get used to the work laptop during your training, it doesn't take long.

... Unless someone else is paying for it, in which case just get what that guy said ^

 

Not familiar with current ThinkPads but if you find one that's easy to swap out/upgrade parts (like the old 480s line), even better. 

Lenovos Thinkpads are great. Standard, simple workhorse. 

Also, get an extra monitor or two if you have the budget. 

 

FWIW

My company issued laptop is:

System Manufacturer    LENOVO
System Type    x64-based PC
System SKU    LENOVO_MT_20W0_BU_Think_FM_ThinkPad T14 Gen 2i
Processor    11th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-1185G7 @ 3.00GHz, 2995 Mhz, 4 Core(s), 8 Logical Processor(s)
 

I have no idea what any of that means, but it's what I, an analyst, use in banking. 

 

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