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How long do you plan on keeping your MBP?

I would be happy to get at least 3 years out of it, but I will buy a new one when this computer is either
A) Dying
B) Cannot run new software
 
However long it fancies me to keep it. I've thought about doing a yearly cycle of buying the most recent base 13" (Pro or Air, we'll see if there are both models this next year). But realistically I could just throw Applecare on this one and I would expect it to last me through the warranty period.
 
My MBP15 replaced my PC desktop.

With my PC I was refreshing about ever 1.5 years. I was in the PC-Power vs Gaming requirements cycle.

I've moved my gaming to my 360, so my MBP is just for computing.

I'm thinking 2-3 years.

MACs retain a nice resale value so I might sell earlier.
 
I plan on keeping my current MBP for at least 3 years, probably longer. Even when I get a new one, mine will get passed down to someone else in the family, so I feel like it's still mine in a way. :)

I just gave my late 2008 MBP to hubby, and his white MacBook is going to my mom this evening. The MacBook is replacing her pre-Intel Mac Mini, which will likely be coming back to my house to be used as a server or something...not sure yet. And we'll use it until it dies and it makes more sense to purchase new than to repair it...same as we do with all our Macs.
 
I have had my 2010 13" MBP now for a year and love it. Ram is maxed out and next I will get an SSD. It does everything I need and I use it for many hours every day. I see me keeping it another five years.
 
I still have a 2010 15" and am still missing something every once in a while.
When Ivy Bridge comes out I will probably buy a new one to get more CPU speed and a 28nm GPU that allows me to play some newer game like Battlefield 3 every once in a while.
I also really would like some USB 3.0 for a fast external drive or a docking station.
Basically as long as the Computer is such an important thing in my work and life and I am still not perfectly happy with how it performs and I can afford it I will try to get something better.
 
tears2040 said:
Sell it every year and get the new version...... That way I only have to pay $500 or less for a new computer when I sell my 1 year old one.
Click to expand...
Thats my plan. I'm not sure why anyone would want to suffer through a 5 year old system.
 
scupking said:
I have had my 2010 13" MBP now for a year and love it. Ram is maxed out and next I will get an SSD. It does everything I need and I use it for many hours every day. I see me keeping it another five years.
Click to expand...

I want to get this same system. With the ram maxed and an ssd it should be compete with the standard config of what is out now. :)

2010 2.4 with ssd boots in under 28 seconds! :)
 
I also have a mid-2009 MBP (2.53GHz 15.4") that I bought in November 2009. I buy a new laptop every 3 years, so you do the math. I may accelerate the replacement of this laptop a bit when the Ivy Bridge MBPs are released, but that day is probably 6 months away.
 
i will keep mine for at least 3 years. but if the new redesign looks tempting my wife will be the proud owner of a 2011 macbook and ill be the proud owner of a 2012. or if i don't the redesign, a 500+ ssd hd and the and my 128 ill put in my ext hd
 
Applecare purchased at the L.A. Computer Company is a few dollars cheaper than Apple's educational price.
 
DustinT said:
Thats my plan. I'm not sure why anyone would want to suffer through a 5 year old system.
Click to expand...

I don't understand why anyone would want to go through the hassle of selling their current computer, then dishing out an extra $500 per year to get the newest one. As long as the system meets your needs (no matter what age it is), what's the point? I plan on keeping mine for at least 3 years, and the chances that it won't meet my needs during that time frame are pretty low. Yes, there will be newer, faster machines out there, but technology changes quickly and that's almost always true. I don't feel the need to have what's newest...I just need to have what works for me.

Besides, I've noticed that a lot of people (like myself) pass their computers on to kids or other family members. They never get sold, just handed down.
 
I kept my 2008 MBP up until May of this year and that was because it died on me. I'll be keeping my 2011 MBP as long as I can...but I do wish I shelled out more for the better video graphics. So, my plan is to give this one to my wife when her 2006 MB no longer fits her needs. According to her, that may be awhile :p
 
Until it dies. Still using my 2007 MacBook, and it still runs like a new machine. Will probably buy a new computer in about 4-5 years.
 
A friend of mine ran his law practice for around 15 years using an early Mac In-The-Box... :eek:

A Mac can certainly last 5+ years. The limiting factors are usually the RAM limit and GPU. It all depends on what you use it for; if you do basic things five years is easy.

I tend to buy my Macs at a good discount and keep them as long as they do what I need. Lately I have been selling them a bit sooner, when the resale value is still around what I paid with the discount. I'd say that is around three years, more or less.

My 24" iMac is starting to get a bit long in the tooth; it's 3GB RAM limit means I'll be selling it soon. If I stuck with Snow Leopard and didn't upgrade apps that demand more RAM I could easily get 5+ years out of it.

Determining when to sell a Mac is akin to selling a car; you have to pencil-out its value and maintenance costs vs. the cost of buying another Mac/car. If you have to pay financing costs (like credit card interest...) that should be part of the decision.

I don't understand folks who need to trade-up cars, houses and computers before it is really necessary. I prefer to have more free-time and control over my work decisions than the latest-and-greatest. Time really does equal money, particularly if you must finance a purchase.
 
I plan to keep my mid 2009 macbook pro 13 until it kicks the bucket, I'm picking up a 2nd macbook pro tomorrow(i7 17 inch early2011)
 
i might keep my early 2011 15" mbp until i see a complete refresh of the mbp, new everything, then i might gift this one to my sister.
 
Also have the high end 2011 15". At least 3 years, very probable between 4-5. I burn CDs for car and maybe it's the last chance to keep the superdrive so I went for it.
 
I'll be keeping mine for as long as i can. recently have hit a bump in the road iwth my 09 macbook, I'm waiting to see if its fixable. hopefully it is and I'll keep it for another couple of years
 
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