How long do you keep your MBP?

[carlsbergbeer]

Typing on my late 2008 MBP. Still going really strong- especially now with the 500gb SSD.
Before this was a powerbook G4 titanium. That was great until I spilled a glass of water on the keyboard. I thought it was a cooler design than the current MBPs. That screen was so thin.

 

[chino-rican]

This is an interesting question. I hope mine can last at least 5 years before replacing. However, since it is now pretty much impossible to DIY upgrade, thanks to Apple's manufacturing practices, I'm curious to know how long people will actually end up keeping their machines. Batteries will eventually lose capacity, hard drives (even SSDs) can fail, memory capacity will seem low, etc. In the old days, people could just upgrade and keep going. Not so much with this current generation of unibody construction, pentalobe tamper-resistant screws, and glue. (I sound like an old fart, don't I?)

 

[Fishrrman]

Mid mid-2010 MacBook Pro 13" is still doing fine (with the addition of an SSD).

My sister's 2010 (white) MacBook is doing well, too (again, with an SSD added).

No need to replace either at this time.

 

[Scomac]

2008 unibody MacBook with the 2.4 ghz processor working nicely with 8GB ram and an SSD. Still get 2 to 2.5 hours out of a full charge on the battery. This was my first Mac and it has been a brilliant machine and still runs really nicely with Yosemite. It was also nice to just not think about computers for 3-4 years after I purchased it. I also have a 2012 Macbook Pro 15" with a quad core i7 and 8GB ram that I hope is going to last at least another 2 maybe 3 years. It is nice to know that this is one of the last ones that a are easily upgradeable!!

I will probably stay with this until it can't run any more. Though if funds allow an air or a new Macbook may one day be on the cards just for the size............ I will keep computers for a long time (though every desktop PC I have ever owned has never gotten past 3 years), I have been impressed with the Macbooks. I hope I haven't just jinxed myself with that statement.

 

[RedRaven571]

I am typing here on my 2008 MBP, still going strong

Bought a used, refurb 2008 15" 4 years ago and still have it (is now my wife's notebook).

 

[xsdeus]

For me, the cycle seems to be around the time AppleCare expires.

My first laptop was a 2008 MacBook (Unibody), and my second was a 2012 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display.

I'm currently on a 2015 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display.

It seems as though the proprietary hardware / soldered logic board (soldered RAM, glued battery, proprietary storage) are making it harder to keep your laptop viable for any longer, since if one thing breaks, you'd have to replace the entire logic board, which comes close to the resale value of the computer, if not more.

Back in the days, it wouldn't be so much of a problem if something broke, since it was almost always part-replaceable.

 

[chino-rican]

It seems as though the proprietary hardware / soldered logic board (soldered RAM, glued battery, proprietary storage) are making it harder to keep your laptop viable for any longer, since if one thing breaks, you'd have to replace the entire logic board, which comes close to the resale value of the computer, if not more.

Back in the days, it wouldn't be so much of a problem if something broke, since it was almost always part-replaceable.

My point exactly.

 

[Scomac]

For me, the cycle seems to be around the time AppleCare expires.

My first laptop was a 2008 MacBook (Unibody), and my second was a 2012 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display.

I'm currently on a 2015 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display.

It seems as though the proprietary hardware / soldered logic board (soldered RAM, glued battery, proprietary storage) are making it harder to keep your laptop viable for any longer, since if one thing breaks, you'd have to replace the entire logic board, which comes close to the resale value of the computer, if not more.

Back in the days, it wouldn't be so much of a problem if something broke, since it was almost always part-replaceable.

Wouldn't this damage resale prices though as people won't want to take the risk? So in the end the market for used Macs simply collapses? I would think twice about going the second hand route in the years ahead. But I generally assume that used computers are always eventually a write off of the original purchase price.

 

[lewdvig]

13" rMBP holds it value so well I got into a yearly upgrade cycle; month before warranty was up sell the old and buy new. Usually same diff as adding applecare.

This time I got a 15" - I'll take a bath if I have to sell it. So if I keep it past the return period it will have to serve me 2-3 years to get the money worth.

 

[ThisOldMacHead]

As has been already said... You keep it as long as it works for you. It honestly doesn't matter what other people do... It all depends on you. You'll find some people that have an inherent need to upgrade every 1-3 years and others like me that hold on to machines for a very long time.

I currently have a early 2011 HiRes 2.3GHz 15" and I have no intention on upgrading any time soon - especially since I recently tossed an 8GB ram stick and a 480GB Sandisk Extreme Pro into it.

Realistically... If you have a 2011 or later 15", there's not much reason to not hang onto it for as long as you can. You've got the capacity for 16GB of ram and the potential for easily upgradable SSDs.

So unless your livelihood depends on shaving every possible second off your workload - stick with what you have and upgrade the internals if you haven't already.

 

[maflynn]

I have 3 Macs in my house at the moment.
Mac Mini for my kids - 2009
13" MBP, 2010 (was my old machine, its now used by kids as well).
15" MBP 2012.

I was thinking of getting a replacement for the 2012 model, but so far its working great. The battery seems to still have plenty of life, and performance wise, its keeping up with what I do.

 

[cambookpro]

I generally upgrade when the current computer no longer does everything I want it to do. I've so far owned (or used as part of a household):

2001 PowerBook G4
2003 PowerBook G4
2006 MacBook Pro
2008 MacBook Pro
2011 MacBook Pro

Upgrades usually hovered around three years but the 2011 is still going strong, albeit a few things have had to be replaced. I'll probably replace it next year as I'd like a smaller laptop with a longer battery life, and also some family members are still using 2006 and 2008 MBPs so could use a newer one.

 

[Technarchy]

I just updated from a 2012 MBA to a 2015 rMBP.

3-4 years seems like a good span between upgrades for me.

Nothing was wrong with my MBA, it actually runs wonderful on El Capitan, but I did want my 6 year old to have his own first laptop for a variety of reasons, so he is getting my MBA.

 

[macenied]

MBP mid 2010 13" ( model 7,1 ) here, 5+ years and counting. Still strong with 2.66 GHZ CPU, 8 GB RAM and 480 GB SSD. Since day one I use the MBP mainly ( 95 - 99% ) for Windows, running 10 now. I will keep it as long as it works for my needs and repairs don´t exceed $150. Recently changed the keyboard to a new one for $35. It´s the first computer I keep that long and it´s my daily driver.

 

[BoneDaddy]

 

[pjfan]

Late 2010 MBA 13".

It keeps doing what it has to do... A little slow, a little noisy, and creates eye fatigue (work computer was retina for a few years), so I'm getting close to justifying a purchase. It hasn't got in the way of my outcomes yet, so I haven't got aggressive about upgrading. Might end up being rMB version 2 due to ultra mobility. If it's SSD speeds are equal to rMBPs, I would probably go all in due to want rather than need.

Also, I have 2010 Mini for multimedia at the house (records OTA, and traditionally headless). Starting to leverage it more however, as a secondary machine. Zero need for upgrade there.

Five years will be my average... It's the different advancements that make my buying decisions, such as retina, all SSD, and general mobility. I've been a huge monitor advocate since the late 90's, and my ultimate bias is that all the HMI devices are the most important tools in computer productivity for the general populous. Apple has the best trackpad (haven't had a mouse since the glass trackpad), best retina screens on laptops, and now are investing in keyboards.... Playing to my heart for sure (I understand many have differing opinions here). Still love my mechanical keyboard though, but I commend them on the rMB first go-around.

Sorry for the Saturday ramble

 

[Acronyc]

I've had my 2012 15" rMBP for almost three years now; bought it in December 2012 as an upgrade from an 11" 2010 MBA. I thought about selling and replacing it before my Apple Care expires in a few months, and I have been tempted by some other Macs. But in the end I don't really feel the need to upgrade right now and hope I can get at least two more years out of it. My 2012 rMBP still does everything I need.

With the addition of a 2014 mini at home my rMBP also gets less use than before, as I tend to only use it when I'm away from home or for some games. Since I'm a casual gamer (maybe 5 hours per week) my upgrade reason will likely be GPU related (as long as Apple continues to offer dedicated GPUs). Lately I have noticed a few games I've tried are a bit hard for the 650M to handle, and this will only get worse with time. It sucks to have to upgrade an entire system just because of the GPU, but unfortunately that's the nature of most notebooks.

Overall I've been very impressed with this machine. It still looks brand new and there is no noticeable difference on the outside between the 2012 and the 2015. I don't plan on selling it so I think I'll always find some use for it until it dies.

 

[Wreckus]

Unless there's a major change in MacBooks (change to same processor as the iPads, etc) or I get clumsy (know to be a klutz ), I'm not planning to upgrade until 2019 the earliest. If I can stretch it to 2020 or later, that will be a big plus.

 

[MacRazySwe]

MBP bought 2007 > MBA bought 2012
MBA bought 2012 > rMBP bought 2014

Had a 2009 MacBook supplied from school in between the MBP and MBA, but the MBP was my main. So yeah, my average would be 3.5 years. However, from a financial standpoint, keeping a $2000 laptop for 5 years and running it to the ground (well not physically, but performance-wise) makes no sense to me anymore. After 5 years, the MBP was hardly worth anything on the used market. Nowadays, I aim to buy my computers cheap (paid around $1000 for my rMBP) and keep them for awhile, then sell. By doing so, I minimize my losses. I get a new computer every once in a while, also there is less risk of my computers failing.

Usually around 2 years of use seem to work very well for me. Of course, it all depends on what new products are released as well.

 

[hamiltonDSi]

1. Macbook Unibody 2.0GHz C2D 2GB RAM (Bought Oct. 2008 Launch Day - Sold April 2009) / 7 months
2. Macbook Unibody 2.4GHz C2D 4GB RAM (Bought April 2009 - Sold Nov. 2011) / 2.5 years
3. 13" Macbook Pro 2.5GHz i5 8GB RAM (Bought Nov. 2011 Launch Day - Sold May 2014) / 2.5 years
4. 15" Retina Macbook Pro 2.0GHz i7 Quad 8GB RAM (Bought May 2014 - Present)

Voted 3 years.

 

[boast]

Until the battery swells. So 2-3 years.

 

[nStyle]

I think the MBP line (and comparably priced units), which was already a mature market, has matured even further as a result of the phone/tablet market. I think you'll see people upgrading less and less. We have practically the best possible screen (can't distinguish pixels), best possible hard drives (load times are almost instant), and best possible power for the foreseeable future. If your uses are consistent with that of the majority, there may not even be a reason to upgrade for the next 7-10 years if you bought your MBP today. But really - processor speed and RAM hasn't been that relevant for let's just say the average consumer in quite some time. The screen + SSD is what really pushed the limits IMO.

The phone/tablet segments really pushed Apple to improve their Macs. I don't think we would have seen a Retina MBP in 2012 had it not been for the iPhone/iPad. Because the phone/tablet market is very mature I don't know how many upgrades Apple could possibly due to their "PC" line any time soon.

 

[MikhailT]

I think the MBP line (and comparably priced units), which was already a mature market, has matured even further as a result of the phone/tablet market. I think you'll see people upgrading less and less. We have practically the best possible screen (can't distinguish pixels), best possible hard drives (load times are almost instant), and best possible power for the foreseeable future. If your uses are consistent with that of the majority, there may not even be a reason to upgrade for the next 7-10 years if you bought your MBP today. But really - processor speed and RAM hasn't been that relevant for let's just say the average consumer in quite some time. The screen + SSD is what really pushed the limits IMO.

The phone/tablet segments really pushed Apple to improve their Macs. I don't think we would have seen a Retina MBP in 2012 had it not been for the iPhone/iPad. Because the phone/tablet market is very mature I don't know how many upgrades Apple could possibly due to their "PC" line any time soon.

I agree. In fact, that's the same reason iPad market has been flat for a while, most people aren't upgrading it every year or even two year like in the beginning. I suspect for most folks, the Mac upgrades are going to extend beyond 5 years soon if not already.

As for what's left for the Macs lineup, the Thunderbolt 3 protocol will bring some nice features. Beside the 40Gbps speed, USB-C ports with USB 3.1 Gen 2 (10Gbps) support, there is also external GPU support finally.

Imagine a thin rMBP with iGPU only and you can double the graphics power just by connecting a full desktop GPU to the TB3 port and game on the laptop like you would with a medium-end desktop. This would only further the upgrade cycle if you can just upgrade the GPU more often.

There are new 16nm GPUs coming out next year that will be more power efficient with the HBM memory stack that should reduce the size of dGPU chips in laptop.

I suspect Apple will bring microLED displays to Macs in the future for the Retina HD support, bumping the ~230 PPI to ~400-500 PPI with deeper black colors and more power efficiency.

There's the new Xpoint/Optane storage technology coming from Intel/Micron that might replace Apple's PCIe SSDs with much faster storage that last longer.

 

[nStyle]

As for what's left for the Macs lineup, the Thunderbolt 3 protocol will bring some nice features. Beside the 40Gbps speed, USB-C ports with USB 3.1 Gen 2 (10Gbps) support, there is also external GPU support finally.

Yes, the only deficiency Macs suffer from ATM is gaming. While a solution is possible now, it's not nearly as elegant as the USB-C enclosures we've seen coming.

 

[MacBoook160]

I am typing this on a 2003 17" 1.0Ghz PowerBook G4. I own a 2001 PowerMac G4 Quicksilver with a 1.2Ghz Sonnet upgrade. In our home is a 1.0Ghz PowerBook G4 Titanium DVI, a 1.42Ghz iBook G4 and a 1.0Ghz 12" PowerBook G4 along with a 20" iMac G5 and a iMac G3/250mhz.

The sole MBP I own (and the only Intel I own) is a 2006 17" 2.16Ghz MBP Core Duo running Snow Leopard.

Yeah, I'm probably not the guy to be answering the question.

If I could, I'd still use my Powerbook 160 from time to time, for the fun of it, but that battery is gone, gone, gone and I'm sure there are none to be found. My MBP early 2011 is still quite usable, though I got an Air this year for better portability. I think the longevity you write about is just awesome!