I generally keep my machines for far longer than they are useful. I may replace them (although not that often...every 3-4 years), but I generally keep the old ones.
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Are you a "flipper"?
- Thread starter Lord Blackadder
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Some things...I tend to do that with a lot of Apple gear, since it tends to whole resale value. A number of times, I've sold old iPods right before new ones are scheduled to come out, so I could recoup some of my expenses for the new one 
I don't buy stuff for "buying stuff". I don't see the point of buying something then selling it 4 months after (without a good reason.. obviously)
Well I'm definitely not as bad as some people on these forums, but I've had 4 Macs in the past 3 years (still have 2 of them), but that's because at the time I could only afford the next to cheapest iMac (17" 2.0 C2D bought 3 years ago) so I recently upgraded to the 24" iMac in my signature, then I bought a Mac Mini (1.83 C2D) 2 years ago cause I wanted a second computer and something more portable than a iMac but couldn't afford a MacBook, so when I got more money I sold my Mac Mini and got my MacBook (in sig) about a year ago. I don't see myself upgrading either of my computers for at least another 2 years though unless they come out with something completely amazing.
used to a flip all my pc stuff way back when. All of my chaper non- computer stuff gets tossed without hesitation
I don't like selling my stuff, I have several macs at home, none really serving any purpose, but I keep them because they're mine, and one day, when I'm not lazy/at uni (same thing really
I guess I should sell my G4 Mac Mini, as that is literally doing nothing, although I sliced a tiny bit of the power cable a while back and patched it back up with electrical tape, all works sound, but even if I told the buyer 100 times that it was there, I'm sure they'd come back saying they knew nothing, and want their money back...
i'd buy it!
I tend to keep computers around for 3 years. I've had my iMac for 2 years so I'll probably upgrade sometime at the beginning of next year, although I'm in no real rush to and could easily go past 3 years if I'm not financially in the position to upgrade. It works great for my needs.
I also a huge pack rat, very rarely do I sell things. And when I do I usually have gotten a ton of use out of it before selling.
So is this your house?
Now that's an example of compulsive hoarding.
I have a relative who is/was a hoarder. That picture is all too familiar to me.
Me? I would say that I am a definitely a pack rat. I have a tendency to keep empty boxes thinking that I may eventually need them for something. I also have a tendency to keep plastic bags, kept inside a giant a plastic bag....also thinking that they could be used for something. Though, if any bags or boxes are too flimsy, I will just recycle them on the spot.
Essentially, anything that I perceive as having a current or future value, I tend to not want to get rid of. For instance, I would never get rid of any electronic items like a tv, vcr or a computer. When I "upgrade" I always keep the original of the thing. In regards to clothes, unless they are ragged, I also tend to keep them. Anything I don't wear anymore, I'll just put in a Rubbermaid container. In fact, I've filled up a lot of Rubbermaid containers with "stuff" that I no longer use. You simply fill 'em up and save them for the future. They stack nicely and there is no mess or clutter. But I would put up a fight if someone wanted to get rid of any that I have.
I flip my Macs
Since Dec 2004(when i bought first mac) I've been through
Powerbook G4 15"
PowerMac Quad G5
MBP 15"
MBP 17"
MBP SR 15"
Mac Pro 2.66
Unibody MBP 15" <= current
Ipod photo 40 when it came out
ipod touch 16 gb
ipod video 60
iphone 3g <=current
Ive never had more than 1 mac laptop at a time.
Oddly enough, I keep almost all my PCs. I've only sold 2 pc laptops, both toshibas, 1 a tablet.
Since Dec 2004(when i bought first mac) I've been through
Powerbook G4 15"
PowerMac Quad G5
MBP 15"
MBP 17"
MBP SR 15"
Mac Pro 2.66
Unibody MBP 15" <= current
Ipod photo 40 when it came out
ipod touch 16 gb
ipod video 60
iphone 3g <=current
Ive never had more than 1 mac laptop at a time.
Oddly enough, I keep almost all my PCs. I've only sold 2 pc laptops, both toshibas, 1 a tablet.
Recycled a bunch of old Macs and peripherals not too long ago. Sometimes family gets cast offs that are still usable.
I generally horde, with Macs lasting two years upwards before being replaced. Other stuff lasts even longer, and I'll hardly ever trade things in (such as DVDs and games). However, if I no longer use something I'll sell it rather than let it collect dust - as an example I sold my PowerMac G5 dual 2.5 last March for £800, which is a good sum of money.
*waits for iMpathetic*
Nah, I'm a huge pack rat. Can't ever let go of anything I buy.
Yes?
I think my all-time record for using a computer is three months, but most are gone in three WEEKS.
My very first Mac I have held on to, owever, but now it died, so
.
I like to change ever 9-12 months. Keep the machine pretty new. If you get a decent price on your Mac, then it isn't much of a cost to keep getting a new one - especially when Apple drops the price of the new model.
I have absolutely zero relationship with most everything I buy. I usually buy and sell things to make a profit.
Subconciously, I look at everything I purchase as an investment. I've noticed this about myself.
I bought my car 5 years ago for $6500, invested a few $100 in it for maintenance, and it's still strong. It's worth about $3000 today, and I figured I spent $4500 in 5 years to own a car, which is CHEAP!
Same with my old MacBook Pro. I had it for 1 year, and then someone offered me about $200 more than I thought it was worth, so I sold it and got a new one.
Next purchase? A house (I'm 20)
Subconciously, I look at everything I purchase as an investment. I've noticed this about myself.
I bought my car 5 years ago for $6500, invested a few $100 in it for maintenance, and it's still strong. It's worth about $3000 today, and I figured I spent $4500 in 5 years to own a car, which is CHEAP!
Same with my old MacBook Pro. I had it for 1 year, and then someone offered me about $200 more than I thought it was worth, so I sold it and got a new one.
Next purchase? A house (I'm 20)
I think I might throw my beige g3 out of my bedroom window to see how many peices it brakes into when I get a mac mini to compliment my G4.
Why have a large doorstop, I can get a 23" 1920 x 1080 samsung LCD to go with the Mini for £150 at a later stage too then get rid of the 1994 Apple Multiple Scan monitor I currently use as second display.
No more beige!
my whole setup will look much better like this:-
Why have a large doorstop, I can get a 23" 1920 x 1080 samsung LCD to go with the Mini for £150 at a later stage too then get rid of the 1994 Apple Multiple Scan monitor I currently use as second display.
No more beige!
my whole setup will look much better like this:-
Attachments
I am constantly flipping things I own... I think the problem is that I spend time searching for bargains.
For example. I bought a busted macbook pro on here a few weeks ago... brought it home, disassembled it, tried to fix it.. found the problem and decided it wasn't worth fixing. I sold it on ebay for $100 more than I bought it for.
My previous iMac, bought it 'refreshed' from an apple store.. kept it 6 months, then sold it on ebay for $400 more than I bought it for.
I bought a Nikon D700 last week from a desperate kid on craigslist who wanted just $1700 for it, I can't see flipping it.. but I might.
When there are so many idiots out there who have no idea how much they should pay.. it's easy to buy low, sell high and keep upgrading for free.
For example. I bought a busted macbook pro on here a few weeks ago... brought it home, disassembled it, tried to fix it.. found the problem and decided it wasn't worth fixing. I sold it on ebay for $100 more than I bought it for.
My previous iMac, bought it 'refreshed' from an apple store.. kept it 6 months, then sold it on ebay for $400 more than I bought it for.
I bought a Nikon D700 last week from a desperate kid on craigslist who wanted just $1700 for it, I can't see flipping it.. but I might.
When there are so many idiots out there who have no idea how much they should pay.. it's easy to buy low, sell high and keep upgrading for free.
I would have to be on the packrat side. I'm very bad about hoarding books, and can't bring myself to get rid of them. This, of course, makes moving fun. Let's see...had 1 car I kept for 11 years and 185k miles. I might still be driving it if the AC hadn't gone out in July, which is brutal around here. I blame the heat stroke for buying a new car.
Tech wise: My non Mac machine was free a couple of years ago, after a customer decided to buy a new machine rather than replace the hard drive in that one. My laptop is a PowerBook G4 I bought for about half price. My newest machine is the 1.83C2D Mini, which I bought from my boss after he upgraded the kids machine to an iMac. I wouldn't have bought it, but he gave me the deal of the decade on it.
I could go on, like my favorite chair, which is an overstuffed wingback + ottoman that is about 10 years old. I guess frugal would be a much better term.
Tech wise: My non Mac machine was free a couple of years ago, after a customer decided to buy a new machine rather than replace the hard drive in that one. My laptop is a PowerBook G4 I bought for about half price. My newest machine is the 1.83C2D Mini, which I bought from my boss after he upgraded the kids machine to an iMac. I wouldn't have bought it, but he gave me the deal of the decade on it.
I could go on, like my favorite chair, which is an overstuffed wingback + ottoman that is about 10 years old. I guess frugal would be a much better term.
Nah, I'm not much of a flipper. That is in part because I love each and every one of my gadgets too much to sell them. I'd rather put them back in the original box and hide it in my closet.
