Mac for modeling? With Parallels?

Hey all, I'm going to buy a new laptop and want to learn financial modeling as I plan to apply for jobs in IB and PE
I see myself doing valuations and growth equity deals... maybe a bit of M&A and LBO modeling too. 

Is Mac with the M1 worth it? I've heard that it can suck without Alt button and the missing Home, End and Page Up/Down buttons. Is that true for all? Are there any new shortcuts?

If the Mac version of excel is bad. Could I buy the Parallels software? Can that mitigate the issue? I assume I'd need a 16GB ram laptop and additionally but three things (Parallels, Windows OS, and MS Office)

Or should I just scrap all of that and go for a windows pc?

4 Comments
 
Most Helpful

Just go with a PC if you're looking to learn Excel/Powerpoint. Personally, I prefer macs, but nothing you can do will make the excel experience the same. Not Parallels, not plugging in a keyboard, not dual-booting etc. Anyone that tells you otherwise is just wrong.

If you really want a mac, buy one, and then buy a cheap PC to learn the office suite on. My old Lenovo T430 from a decade ago still runs like a champ. You could get a lightly used one and just use that as your modeling computer.

 

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