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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Alienware Z6000 Mega Burner with dual charging ports and built in water cooler
MacBook Pro
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.
16MB? Make sure to store Excel files on a floppy disk too
underrated comment
16MB memory, not hard drive. That’s plenty for 99% of users.
Thank you for your reply, very useful!
Do people actually *buy* computers to prepare for IB?
Geez...
And over here I feel like an asshole because I wing 99% of the things I do
seriously. I didn't do *anything* finance/technicals related between my summer analyst gig and full time. And it was fine. Did some on the job trining and it all came back to me.
kids don't understand how to boost their longevity
Refurbished thinkpad
None. Your employer will be providing laptop
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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