Do MacBook Pro's last longer than a standard PC laptop?

[s2mikey]

I sure hope they last! Bought my first mac laptop a few weeks ago. Replaced a couple of aging toshiba laptops that are basically done. Got around 5-6 years out of those. One has a bad hard drive and the other is a constant crasher.

Here's hoping...

 

[PatrickVogeli]

I'd think it really depends. My case (me, family, girlfriend)

• Toshiba Satellite L10 from around Q2 2003 or 2004
• Acer Aspire Timeline 1810 Q3 2009
• Asus K52F from Q4 2010
• Macbook Air 11" Q4 2014
• Sony VGN-FZ18M Q4-2007

All of them still work.

• The L10 and K52F has been used by my parents: very well treated and lightweight workload (email and internet). Both have failed batteries, but otherwise run perfect.
• Timeline 1810: first used by me, I gave to my brother a couple of months ago. It was my main machine since I got it until I bought my Dell XPS 14 in may 2013. Virtual machine, programing, internet, mail. Everything, it was a fine little machine.
• The Macbook air is from my girlfriend, has been her main machine since she got it. The hardest thing she does is a bit of Photoshop and tons of writing (she has a beauty blog).
• The Sony one was from my girlfriend, and passed to her mother when she got the Air. Since about 2012 the machine has been quite abused, since she has a little brother who likes to hit the keyboard. In the last year it has also been used by her Grandpa, who "destroys" it software-wise. Battery failed a long time ago (always plugged in..) and the wireless switch is not holding anymore. There are also frequent resets, I'll have to check those (I think it's a combination of Dust and software problems). The casing also looks abused (discoloration and some dents).

I also have a Dell XPS 14 since May 2013, and still works and looks perfecty, but that shouldn't be a surprise! However, I know wish I had gotten a rMBP 13 back then..

 

[MH01]

I used to believe they did.

They were the models which were upgradable. with the current ones, once something goes, there is no repair.

At the end of the day, they are both PCs inside, electrical components die, it comes down to luck how long one will last.

----------

My friends 2009 Rolls Royce had an engine problem after 2 years, my 1981 Buick is still running so from those statistics all Buicks hold up much better than all Rolls Royce's. I took statistics in Kollidge so I must be right because my sample is very accurate.

You know what.... the Buick could be more reliable.... which exact models are we talking about here??

 

[d0nK]

Given that there's no manufacturing flaws, a Mac should last around 5-6 years on average.

The 15"/17" 2011 MBPs all had a manufacturing flaw with the Radeon GPU, so most failed after the 3-year mark.

I've had my late 2011 mbp for 2 years and 5 months and I can't use an external monitor with it anymore!
Cost me £1550!!
Many others cannot use the discrete gfx card (6750m, etc) anymore and have to permanently use the inbuilt Intel 3000!

I don't do anything too intensive and have always treat it with kid gloves because it's precious to me. I do video work on it maybe a few times a year but use it mainly for audio work and photography.

Ticking Apple manufacturing disaster waiting to fail!
Apple should do a recall!!

Apple SUCK on this matter.
Cowboys.

 

[yjchua95]

I've had my late 2011 mbp for 2 years and 5 months and I can't use an external monitor with it anymore!
Cost me £1550!!
Many others cannot use the discrete gfx card (6750m, etc) anymore and have to permanently use the inbuilt Intel 3000!

I don't do anything too intensive and have always treat it with kid gloves because it's precious to me. I do video work on it maybe a few times a year but use it mainly for audio work and photography.

Ticking Apple manufacturing disaster waiting to fail!
Apple should do a recall!!

Apple SUCK on this matter.
Cowboys.

Apple will not do a recall, replace, or offer an extended repair program, because:

1. It's too costly to offer everybody a replacement MBP a 2.3/16/512/750M 15" rMBP (minimum specs, that is).

2. Apple does not know how to repair, they only know how to replace logic boards. All 2011 15"/17" MBP boards with the Radeon GPU have the same manufacturing flaw, so a logic board replacement will never work.

3. The 6490M/6750M/6770M cards are no longer in production, so Apple can't re-solder another GPU into the board.

4. NVIDIAgate (the 8600GT failure) 15" 2008 MBPs were under an extended repair program because it was on NVIDIA's dime. The current Radeongate issue won't be on AMD's dime because Apple botched the manufacturing process (over-application of thermal paste). Add that to using unleaded solder (for 'environmental' concerns) and you've got a double whammy.

 

[Staggeredsix]

I repair PCs for a living so I see computers of all ages come in. Sometimes I see $300 wal-mart specials that are 10+ years old coming in for simple memory or hard disk upgrade/replacements. Sometimes I see brand new models. Every machine is going to have a lifespan that directly correlates with the owner. I personally have a 12 year old HP laptop that still runs strong... not that I use it for more than HDD diagnostics.

As far as an Apple PC over a Windows PC? They both have the same failure rate. Apple laptops have thermal issues that cause the logic boards to fail more often than a Dell or HP. Dell and HP consumer grade laptops are basically ewaste, professional grade are actually robust. Asus builds by far the most durable laptop for the money right now. Lenovo Thinkpads? Although they get expensive they are built like fort knox and it's a rare treat when I have to repair one.

I don't suggest anyone gets a laptop/notebook unless they are a traveling professional or student. Most people who own laptops damage them in some form within 6 months.

With all of that said, I highly suggest you prioritize what you actually need. If you require a laptop don't jump to any one brand off the cuff. Asus and Lenovo are the only brand of Windows PCs I buy. I'll never own a Dell, Gateway, Acer or HP. They are poorly built. Apple makes a super solid PC that has the potential to last for years. They are kind of hit or miss. Some people never maintain them in the manner I'd consider "properly" and they last for years. The folks who do clean the fans, heat exhangers and replace thermal compound almost never have a problem.

If you're going to invest in a laptop be prepared to spend at least $1000. I suggest staying away from the Renta tier of Macbook Pro due to it's astounding lack of repairability. The Macbook Air is just barely able to be repaired, but expect a huge bill. If anything try to get ahold of a Pro with the matte display. If you opt for a Windows PC definatly look at Asus and Lenovo's offerings, but make sure you're looking at $900 + machines.

----------

I've had my late 2011 mbp for 2 years and 5 months and I can't use an external monitor with it anymore!
Cost me £1550!!
Many others cannot use the discrete gfx card (6750m, etc) anymore and have to permanently use the inbuilt Intel 3000!

I don't do anything too intensive and have always treat it with kid gloves because it's precious to me. I do video work on it maybe a few times a year but use it mainly for audio work and photography.

Ticking Apple manufacturing disaster waiting to fail!
Apple should do a recall!!

Apple SUCK on this matter.
Cowboys.

It's not the work you are doing or the chipset, it's overheating. Replace your thermal compound and think about buying another underside case panel. Modify the panel to allow the fans to breath. The heatsink and heat exchangers are a bit too small to deal with the TDP of that AMD gpu, in the stock configuration. Do some quick, cheap modifications to your laptop and the problem will go away.

Sorry for the double post.

 

[Gav Mack]

They are on a par with decent business grade PC laptops such as my venerable 2007 ThinkPad T61p; which has had similar mods like old Macs to extend their lives such as re-pasting and polishing the heatsink, SSD, maxed out memory and in it's case also a hacked BIOS to whitelist all wifi cards, CPU's and SATA2.

Consumer grade Windows laptops are complete and utter junk - built not to last unlike business kit and Macintosh notebooks.

----------

I repair PCs for a living so I see computers of all ages come in. Sometimes I see $300 wal-mart specials that are 10+ years old coming in for simple memory or hard disk upgrade/replacements. Sometimes I see brand new models. Every machine is going to have a lifespan that directly correlates with the owner. I personally have a 12 year old HP laptop that still runs strong... not that I use it for more than HDD diagnostics.

As far as an Apple PC over a Windows PC? They both have the same failure rate. Apple laptops have thermal issues that cause the logic boards to fail more often than a Dell or HP. Dell and HP consumer grade laptops are basically ewaste, professional grade are actually robust. Asus builds by far the most durable laptop for the money right now. Lenovo Thinkpads? Although they get expensive they are built like fort knox and it's a rare treat when I have to repair one.

I don't suggest anyone gets a laptop/notebook unless they are a traveling professional or student. Most people who own laptops damage them in some form within 6 months.

With all of that said, I highly suggest you prioritize what you actually need. If you require a laptop don't jump to any one brand off the cuff. Asus and Lenovo are the only brand of Windows PCs I buy. I'll never own a Dell, Gateway, Acer or HP. They are poorly built. Apple makes a super solid PC that has the potential to last for years. They are kind of hit or miss. Some people never maintain them in the manner I'd consider "properly" and they last for years. The folks who do clean the fans, heat exhangers and replace thermal compound almost never have a problem.

If you're going to invest in a laptop be prepared to spend at least $1000. I suggest staying away from the Renta tier of Macbook Pro due to it's astounding lack of repairability. The Macbook Air is just barely able to be repaired, but expect a huge bill. If anything try to get ahold of a Pro with the matte display. If you opt for a Windows PC definatly look at Asus and Lenovo's offerings, but make sure you're looking at $900 + machines.

----------



It's not the work you are doing or the chipset, it's overheating. Replace your thermal compound and think about buying another underside case panel. Modify the panel to allow the fans to breath. The heatsink and heat exchangers are a bit too small to deal with the TDP of that AMD gpu, in the stock configuration. Do some quick, cheap modifications to your laptop and the problem will go away.

Sorry for the double post.

Polishing the contact plates on the 2011 as well as doing the paste works wonders cooling these models. The OP needs a reballed GPU though first!

 

[Wirbowsky]

I think that for similar hardware and price, Macbook does not last longer than PC.

Again anecdotal evidence, we have a 6 years old Dell Laptop still working fine even though it has been dropped. My 4 years old Macbook pro is going fine also.

Both were in the same price range.