I usually keep my notebooks for about 2 years. Resale value is still high enough then for me to justify buying a new one. If I wait any longer it costs me more money, if I do it any sooner I end up spending more for not much performance increase.
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How long do you keep your Macbook Pro for?
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You not getting AC for it? I just installed a 500GB Hitachi drive, and i have 2 years of warranty left. Pretty easy if you are patient and are handy. ifixit has a great guide on how to take apart and replace the HD on the pre uni MBPs.
2.5 years with AppleCare... that way I can increase the resale value by saying it has 6 months of warranty left. Seriously though, Macbooks and MBPs hold their value extremely well compared to other laptops. I find myself switching almost monthly because I can buy them cheap on craigslist and sell them for profit on ebay. I've gone through so many recently... 1.8 MBA, 1.86 MBA w/SSD, 13" 2.53 MBP, another 13" MBP with 120gb OCZ Vertex SSD, and now a 15" 2.66 with 256gb SSD... and that's all within the past two months!
http://xkcd.com/606/
Bingo.
Edit: I am currently looking into purchasing a MBP around the 3 year mark of my old Dell laptop. I bought it around May 5th, 2007. I'd say, in general, I upgrade on a 3-year cycle. I always buy high-end systems (whether it be a laptop or a desktop) and I generally only have one computer at a time that I actually use. Generally, I give away my old ones.
I update my computer every 8-9 months or so, and my mobile phone every year. Well I have been for the last years at least. But I realized I pour quite a lot of money into this, and since I'm a college student I do not really have millions coming in 
. I will most likely get Apple Care for my current 13" MBP and keep it for a year or so longer then I usually do. And keep my current iPhone 3G until it breaks. Then I can pour my money into buying watches instead
. I will most likely get Apple Care for my current 13" MBP and keep it for a year or so longer then I usually do. And keep my current iPhone 3G until it breaks. Then I can pour my money into buying watches instead 
I have an identical machine and I love it. The FW400 and the ExpressCard slot are really nice. By the way, you can get a 48GB Filemate SSD for your ExpressCard slot for around $130-160. Installing your OS on it and booting off of it will really make your MBP zippy. The difference is immediately noticeable.
I can't replace the HDD because it will void my warrantee and I'm not paying $200 labor
at the local apple authorized dealer to install the drive in order to maintain my warrantee. I'll wait three more months.
When you realize you don't actually need all the power new machines offer, it makes sense. That and the fact that you can generally go through three or four used computers in ten years for the price of a new one that would last maybe five...
coming up on 4 years soon for the original macbook pro. getting replaced if quads come into play.
The keys on the non-unibody are plastic as well but I do agree that silver keys would look better on the unibody than the black ones. Maybe Apple will go really retro and have bronze keys.
The black keys helps alot, especially now with the new backlit keyboard.
I think it looks great since the outline of the uMBP mid-09 is black and the keyboard looks so much cleaner.
I think this is good advice for many products that quickly lose value after purchase--but not for Apple. Macs seem to retain quite a bit of value even used. I've seen 2 year old MBP's go for only $500 less than what they were new. I don't get it. Today I saw a nearly 4 year old MBP listed for $949.00--a horrible value IMO.
I still believe the most cost effective strategy for Apple computers is to buy new, immediately after an update, and then use the thing for as long as possible without reselling it.
I would keep mine for another year, but the whole 8600M issue has me thinking about it being a ticking time bomb. I use it mainly for work so it would totally suck if it just dies. I know apple covers 3 years on the graphics issue, but not sure if they will warranty it since I popped it open and replaced my thermal paste and harddrive.
I kept my mid '07 Macbook from December '07 to December '09 when I spilled water on it. Bought a mid '09 Macbook to replace it, hoping to use it for two years more. I paid less for this MB ($820) than I did for the one I bought two years ago ($1050), even though both were refurbished.
It's my first Mac... 5 months old MBP 13". Will max out the memory and will add a 2x1TB SSD (when the prices drop significantly and SSDs take over) and when that is considered slow... I'll replace my MBP. Will probably take 4-5 years at least if nothing breaks that is.
I had my first PC since 2001 til 2006. Compared to that speeds at that time it was getting slow. Then I changed it with a IBM thinkPad a21p which was roughly the same as the PC in specs. Then in 2007 I started using a 2005 Acer TM 2100. Maxed out the ram and can easily be used for movies, browsing, office and music, and even photoshop. What more to have...
The Acer wasn't mine so I wanted to own my own laptop and I felt in love with the MBPs. So I got the MBP... will keep it till it die.
I had my first PC since 2001 til 2006. Compared to that speeds at that time it was getting slow. Then I changed it with a IBM thinkPad a21p which was roughly the same as the PC in specs. Then in 2007 I started using a 2005 Acer TM 2100. Maxed out the ram and can easily be used for movies, browsing, office and music, and even photoshop. What more to have...
The Acer wasn't mine so I wanted to own my own laptop and I felt in love with the MBPs. So I got the MBP... will keep it till it die
.It won't void your warranty. God people are ignorant about how warranties work.I can't replace the HDD because it will void my warrantee and I'm not paying $200 labor
my powerbook G4 served me well for 4.5 years, dropped it several times off various desks, which led to me having eventually replacing the HDD, and in the end it just died on me. went through 2 batteries as well.
my unibody macbook (before the were pros again) is 14 months old. already through 350 battery cycles according to istat ( i don't have a desktop, just use a display) and I am bored of it already. would really like the longer battery life and SD slot
my unibody macbook (before the were pros again) is 14 months old. already through 350 battery cycles according to istat ( i don't have a desktop, just use a display) and I am bored of it already. would really like the longer battery life and SD slot
I´ve had my MBP for close to one year before selling it. I bought the Classic just when the uMBP came out and saved a bit there. I planned to keep it for a while longer, but when they dropped the Express card slot I wanted to have the fastest and newest version possible with that slot as I use it all the time to off load footage from my HD camera on location. Big time saver.
Still can´t belive they replaced it with a SD card slot.
On the other hand I just got my wife a new MB as her 5 year old 12" iBook was getting on it´s last legs. Still use it in the Kitchen though.
It all depends on the way you use your computer and if you make money off it I guess
Still can´t belive they replaced it with a SD card slot.
On the other hand I just got my wife a new MB as her 5 year old 12" iBook was getting on it´s last legs. Still use it in the Kitchen though.
It all depends on the way you use your computer and if you make money off it I guess
yep. when it first came out i hated it. bought it anyway coz my old G4 died on me
now I love it, much better in the dark than the silver keyboard.
The same reason we don't all wait until a car becomes outdated and dies on us before we buy a new one. Appealing technology comes along, and for those of us with a job, buying it isn't that bad.
I usually buy a new one annually. Right before my Applecare runs out. I can buy new Applecare for $250 or sell it, resell value on Apple products is brilliant, lose $400 off what I bought it for, buy a new one, lose $150. Whoopdeedo. Two days of work.
I use to have a toshiba and several dell machines.
Those would last for a year or two before something went wrong.
Now I have my first macbook pro, and it´s 1yrs old, feels like it´s brand new. I´m going to keep it for at least 3yr total
Those would last for a year or two before something went wrong.
Now I have my first macbook pro, and it´s 1yrs old, feels like it´s brand new. I´m going to keep it for at least 3yr total
I had my iBook for 2.5 years (logic board), and a Core 2 Duo MacBook for 2.9 years. This currently MacBook Pro I plan on keeping for as long as it works. I'll get Applecare and be extra gentle with it.
Other than dealing with the hassle of selling the old one this works for me as well.
Cheers,