How Often Do You Replace Your Macs?

[JamesGorman]

Just as the question says, How often do you buy a new mac to either compliment or replace your existing ones?

[MacGeek7]

Not until AppleCare expires. And then only once it starts to go on the fritz.

[harodude]

I would say just as technology expands and things become faster, throughout my household we probably purchase a new mac at least once a year....

This to keep up with the latest graphics chips that are often soldered and cannot be upgraded (iMac & MBP's).

At any rate though, Apple seems to have replaced at least 3 of our computers in the past 2 years under Apple Care because of lemons!

[agl82]

.

[Insulin Junkie]

Probably in a year's time when the rev C MBA starts smiling at me :D

[IgnatiusTheKing]

I've never had a specific lifecycle for my Macs; I just use them until they are too slow for my needs. My most recent purchases were an iMac in November 2007 and a MacBook Air in March 2009. I don't anticipate buying a new desktop for another three years or so or buying another laptop for another five-ish years.

So...I guess my answer would be every 30 months or so...

[GimmeSlack12]

Every 3 years or so. Depends on which tiered model I buy (bottom, mid, top of the line). My iMac 24" should last me until 2012 easily (bought early 2008).

[Carl Abudephane]

1st Mac: Bondi Blue iMac in 1998.
2nd Mac: iMac G5 Rev B, May 2005.
3rd Mac: Yet to be determined(17" UMBP or Rev C Air), but definitely by mid-June.

[bigjnyc]

I'm such a sucker for new shiny technology, ever since becoming a mac user in April of last year I've owned a blackbook, an iMac, an aluminum MacBook and now a 15" MacBook pro. LOL I am hoping to stick to the MBP until applecare runs out or apple makes a super drastic improvement to the line.

[Insulin Junkie]

I'm such a sucker for new shiny technology, ever since becoming a mac user in April of last year I've owned a blackbook, an iMac, an aluminum MacBook and now a 15" MacBook pro. LOL I am hoping to stick to the MBP until applecare runs out or apple makes a super drastic improvement to the line.

Haha, looks like I'm not the only one. Since I started using macs as well as PC I've bought a blackbook, an imac, a MBP and an alu macbook recently. We need help :rolleyes:

[NewMacbookPlz]

I ran my G4 iBook for ~5 years. Bought it brand new 12/03 and only stopped using it when I bought my Unibody in 10/08

[Heb1228]

Bought my first Mac in 2003 and I'm still using it. I'm planning on getting a new MacBook Pro when the next revision comes out.

[J&JPolangin]

...I got my first iMac to replace a ~10 yr old desktop PC in March and its been fantastic (but each of my 4 other computers has their specific use/place in the house)... as one of them completely stops working, the iMac would take its place and I'd get another so it just depends on the next machine to go kaput...

[JamesGorman]

To be honest I like to purchase things that are the latest and greatest, being a student makes that a bit harder though lol. With that being said I'll most likely be purchasing another mac within a year to a year and a half, most likely when the rev.c macbooks and macbook pros come out.

[thejadedmonkey]

It was every 3-4 years when I used Windows, but I'll probably be ditching my mac to go back to Windows well before I hit the 4-year mark, finance willing.

[JamesGorman]

It was every 3-4 years when I used Windows, but I'll probably be ditching my mac to go back to Windows well before I hit the 4-year mark, finance willing.

windows:( lol

[MultiFinder17]

Whenever the machines get too slow and inhibit me doing what I need to do. I recently upgraded my main desktop from a 2000 dual 500MHz Power Mac G4 to a new Mac mini, so I guess I tend to go a bit longer than most people :)

I tend to stay a bit behind the cutting edge. I fully expect that this mini will serve my needs for many many years to come. Same with my main laptop, a 12" 1.5GHz PowerBook G4; great little laptop, and I plan on using it until it explodes :P

[PaperMacWriter]

I still don't have my first Mac, but I would replace a computer once it can't run the latest version of what I use(i.e. Mac OSX, iWork, Bricksmith, iLife, some games, ect.). So, based on this, I would say I would get a middle-of-the-line computer every.... say, 5 years? Maybe sooner if speeds really affect what I use(for example, general apps run 2-3x faster on this computer, or some new wireless tech thats way faster than the last draft), but otherwise, computers should last for at least five years(my brother just got his first mac, a 1GHz FW800 PMG4, and he loves it), if not more.
Oh, and only going to 18 months+ is dumb, options should be:
>1 year
1-2 year
2-3 years
3-4 years
4-5 years
5 years+

Only people with money to burn(or a real professional) needs a new computer every 18 months, unless of course it falls from a 37 story building:eek:
SG :apple:

[Cassie]

Whenever they get too old for me to use/break. I don't expect to replace my eMac for a few years at least.

[wadejc85]

When it poops out from overuse. :p

[Chupa Chupa]

Typically I replace my desktop (MP) about every 4 years. I replace my MBP every 2 years. However, my hardware purchases are solely dictated by my software needs so I will upgrade sooner if s/w requires.

[JamesGorman]

I still don't have my first Mac, but I would replace a computer once it can't run the latest version of what I use(i.e. Mac OSX, iWork, Bricksmith, iLife, some games, ect.). So, based on this, I would say I would get a middle-of-the-line computer every.... say, 5 years? Maybe sooner if speeds really affect what I use(for example, general apps run 2-3x faster on this computer, or some new wireless tech thats way faster than the last draft), but otherwise, computers should last for at least five years(my brother just got his first mac, a 1GHz FW800 PMG4, and he loves it), if not more.
Oh, and only going to 18 months+ is dumb, options should be:
>1 year
1-2 year
2-3 years
3-4 years
4-5 years
5 years+

Only people with money to burn(or a real professional) needs a new computer every 18 months, unless of course it falls from a 37 story building:eek:
SG :apple:

lol sorry for not being more broad on my options:p I was just going throwing down some numbers anyway. Now that i think of it I probably should have been a tad broader on my options. Next time!! :cool:

[jwt]

Dude, you need to measure in years, not months. Some mac people still have the original iMac. I have a friend who has the first iBook.

I keep mine usually 5 years. My Powermac G4 lasted 6. My Mac Pro will probably last 10.

[JamesGorman]

Dude, you need to measure in years, not months. Some mac people still have the original iMac. I have a friend who has the first iBook.

I keep mine usually 5 years. My Powermac G4 lasted 6. My Mac Pro will probably last 10.

I know, I know, I realized it afterwards, but does everyone have to point it out lol. If its years, just select the 18+ months, and type up how long you usually keep it for, like everyone else. Does everyone always have to point out mistakes in peoples threads lol? sheeesh, everyone is so negative around here:p

[Ntombi]

I bought this iBook in June 2006, and I'll be getting a new MacBook in summer 2009. That's about my usual time frame, though I have been champing at the bit for almost a year now. :o

[noodle654]

A few months before my AppleCare expires usually. I will be selling my MBP and upgrading when I go off to college in 2010.

[kingmohd84]

your poll is all wrong
like who changes their computers in such a short time!? A computer is an investment!

Some one else posted better choices for such a poll.

I say it is almost impossible that you need to change you computer in the first two years. I think simply because no one makes software that is not 2 years backward compatible(unless they want to lose a lot of money).

An older computer does not show any need of change before 2 years. In 3 years you start feeling it is getting slow. In four years you feel it is time to change. In 5+ years, you definitely need the upgrade.

You only need to change your computer in less than 2 years if you need every mhz on your side and it saves you time and makes you hundreds of dollars. You can only stay with 5+ years computer if your needs are very simple like internet browsing and e-mail(I bet most people).

When I used to use Windows it usually was 3-4 years then my computer really sucked and needed the change. I switched to mac and bought one in like September 2002, it survived me well until April 2009!
7 years!
Shows the quality on the mac! But in reality it kind of needed changing to stay with the technology like in 2007 .
It was an imac 17 that still works well

[Exegesis48]

1st Mac: Bondi Blue iMac in 1998.
2nd Mac: iMac G5 Rev B, May 2005.
3rd Mac: Yet to be determined(17" UMBP or Rev C Air), but definitely by mid-June.

Based on your previous computers, I'm curious why you are now going with a Notebook? I really respect your decision to go with a 17" UMBP though, that's one hell of a computer. I'm really swayed by that spiffy new battery. The Macbook Air is super sexy, but I really don't think I'd be happy with it. And I don't think you would be either, after having a G5 iMac, that Macbook Air is going to feel painfully underpowered.

[Exegesis48]

I personally don't think you're timeframes encompass a broad spectrum of people. I know this is MacRumors and all, but really, who changes their computer out so frequently? Obviously based on your poll results thus far, not many. I usually wait until AppleCare runs out, and then try to time my next purchase alongside the next major release. I recently had to break that cycle though, as my trusty 1.83ghz Macbook Pro took a nosedive into traffic. So now I have a Unibody Macbook Pro, which I really feel like it's a prototype. That's especially hard to deal with, considering my 1.83ghz Macbook Pro was the first Intel mac ever launched, and despite only have a 32bit Core Duo processor, I never once felt like I was beta testing a product. Don't get me wrong, this Unibody is nice, it just some how feels "incomplete".

[JamesGorman]

I already admitted that I should have expanded my poll options but I realized too late. Just relax with it lol. But anyway, I'm glad to see lots of people replying:)