How long do you stick with your main computer?

[semicharmed]

My PB is coming on two years old and I'm planning to keep it until it dies. This is the first computer that's mine and I'm not anticipating grad school being a time when I have lots of extra cash lieing around.
So hopefully it will last at least unti lmy undergrad is done (5/09) and hopefully through a year or two of grad school.
Of course, I have Applecare until next July so if something happens to it before then...

 

[Diatribe]

Pretty much every year. The reason for that is though that a laptop is my only computer and I need the portability and the HDs are just not big enough yet for me to keep it longer than 1 year.

 

[wngraham]

My desktop computer timeline:

December 1997
April 2000
June 2004
June 2006

I guess that averages out to about every 2 and a half years....

 

[munckee]

My Powerbook is about 2 years old. I bought it used ~13 months ago and was planning on keeping it until the end of the year until it met a recent and untimely demise. Still working on the replacement situation.

 

[seany916]

I tend to upgrade more often than I really need to because someone else in the family needs a computer. I'm at the top of the food chain, so I get a computer and then that person inherits mine.

You SO have it going on! My family does that with cars (got 3 that way). I passed mine down the chain when I got a newer/nicer/better one.

 

[seany916]

What about an option for until it no longer does what I need it to do efficiently for me...

That would be my work. About 1&1/2 years. We run exclusively notebooks because they're easier to bring in for servicing, can be swapped and rotated instead of being dedicated to each employee's desk (everything should be saved on the server, NOT the computer itself- which makes downtime for repairs a non-issue), and more flexible in terms of what it can be used for. High capital investment, but it works better for us in the long run.

 

[iBunny]

One Year. Anything longer than that and its time for something faster.

 

[Diejws]

I got my first PC in Nov. '99, and my second one in... April '03. Got my MacBook April '07, so that's about slightly less than 4 years on average.

 

[iBookG4user]

I've never owned a computer for more than a year. But I'll keep my MacBook Pro for longer than that though. I figure that my MacBook Pro will last me until I graduate in 2008. But I put 1 year because the longest I've ever owned a computer for is 9 months currently.

 

[CRAZYBUBBA]

keep it until it dies or doesn't have to ability to do what you want, ie read blu ray discs

 

[Trogloxene]

If it does the job, then it does the job.

-T

 

[tjcampbell]

I buy a new mac every year.

 

[itsme92]

Over the course of time I've personally used the following computers as my primary machines:

1990: Some kind of old Mac (the case made it look like the original Mac) (given to us by a family member) (Died in 1999, mostly used for my parents taxes)
Feb. 1997: Dell XPS M200S, Windows 95, 64MB of RAM, 200MHz Pentium, 4GB HD (Recycled in 2002 because it was slooooow and obsolete)
Nov. 2001: Dell Dimension 8200, Windows XP, 512MB/1.8GHz P4/80GB
(Still in use by my mother as her primary machine, although she is thinking about replacing it with a Macbook) (Slow as a result of a 5.5 year old Windows install, we may reformat in the near future)
Dec. 2002: Dell Dimension 8250, XP, 512MB/2.4GHz P4/120GB
(Still in use by my siblings as primary machine, with a new HD and clean install of XP it runs great for everything but games released in 2005 and on) (Upgraded to a 750GB HD) (May be replaced with a high-ish end Vista PC, 24" iMac, or some kind of laptop in the near future)
Dec. 2006: Macbook 2GHz/2GB/160GB
(I use it every day, love it, and don't think I'll replace it till Summer 2010 at the absolute earliest)

So for me it averages out to about four years. But you need to also consider that we used to have on family computer for everyone except my dad, but people gradually branched off and got new computers while the computer they left behind was still in use. So both the XP machines I've left behind are still being used under my roof.

 

[ezekielrage_99]

I usually go for 2 years between updates, but it turns out to be closer to 3 years after I wait for the latest speed bumps to be released

 

[kajitox]

My current computer is only 2 years old (and in just fine condition) but I have the opportunity to upgrade when I graduate; I'm not gonna miss a chance like that.

My previous desktop is 6-7 years old and is still kicking around, though I gave up on it after about 4 years.

 

[jimN]

My powerbook is coming up to 3 and a half years old and I can neither afford nor justify a replacment. Which is just as well because I've become rather attached to it.

 

[SkyBell]

I'm not naming my main computers, because I've had too many.

However, most recently, I did use my HP for a little over 4 1/2 years(it died twice. Third time it died, I gave up on it). I've had my Mini for 6 months, keeping it until it dies, although my parents have promised to buy me a new laptop in 4 years when I go off to collage, so it probably won't be my main machine anymore, but it will be a good backup/file server/etc. (whatever I can think of)

And it just may be my kid's first computer

 

[mavherzog]

Every time I buy a new computer, I tell myself it will last 2-3 years. 9 months later, I usually have something different.

 

[Fearless Leader]

Laptops until they die, and I abuse my laptops so its like two years if they are lucky, though this MBP I hope to keep for about four, three more to go.

My desktop I have a june 2004 Powermac which will be my main box till 2009/2010. I can/have upgraded so much in this tank.

 

[lalcan]

1995: 486sx Samsung OS/2
1999: Pentium Toshiba Win98b
2000: Pentium2 OS/2
2002: iMac G4 Jaguar
2004: iBook G3 Panther
2006: iBook G4 Tiger

6 in 11 years... if everything goes on as planned January 2008 will come with a new MB!

 

[SMM]

My situation is somewhat misleading. My company allows me to buy, and take any technology I want home (within reason). So, I usually upgrade my SW development system yearly, or when there is a compelling reason to do so. Easy to stay current, when you are not paying for it.

When I was first hired on, I was also given a $2500/year training budget. It was increased to $5000/year when I was promoted to manager. Now, it is $7500/year, because my business card says "Director of Technology".

I can use this at my discretion. I convinced them that this is a 'benefit', and whatever I spend it on is mine. There have also been a couple instances where they wanted to give me 'recognition' bonuses, but do not want to upset the 'political climate'. So, I was given 'additional' training allowances. With this 'training allowance' I have purchased:

PM G5 dual 2.0 6 GB
PM G5 quad 2.5 8 GB - 7800GT
MP quad 2.66 11 GB - 1900X - 4 x 500 GB
PB G4 1.5 - 1 GB
MBP 17" 2.33 C2D - 2 GB
MacMini G4 1.42
MacMini 1.83
MB 'Blackbook'

(2) LaCie 500 GB Triple
(4) LaCie 1 TB Triple
(1) LaCie 1 TB Ethernet NAS
(1) LaCie 2 TB Ethernet NAS

(2) ACD 23"
(2) Dell 24"
(2) ACD 30"
(2) Dell 30"

CS2
MMS
CS3 Master (waiting)
(3) FCS

Panasonic AG-30P
Panasonic AG-DVX100B

I recently found out that I have another $5000 'training bonus' coming in July. That is nice because that is my anniversary. I renew my $7500 'annual' training allowance then. But, I also have 'cached' $4000 to pay for the new FCS.

High Definition, here I come!

I am not posting this to brag. Over the past year, I have documented all of the technology I own. As you can see, the reason I have it is because, "I am not paying for it!" I am in the highest earnings/benefits stage of my career. Nothing exceptional about that. Those of you who are not there yet, will eventually be in the same position. If you can make a similar 'training' deal, do it.

 

[moworks2]

Seven years going on eight

My first Mac was a llci...had that seven years. Mostly due to compatibility issues with the newest software I upgraded to a G4 450 Sawtooth...i've upgraded it as much as I can, except for the processor, don't think I'll do that now...I've had this computer seven years and four months and am hoping to keep it till February 2008 when it'll be eight years old...

I'm a graphic designer, lots of photoshop work, illustrator and this machine still does what I need...ok, some photoshop files, the big ones, I'll have to wait a few seconds for certain filters to do their thing...

So, maybe early next year a Mac Pro...we'll see...

M

 

[rikers_mailbox]

I've had my 12" PB a hair over 3 years now. During that time I've upgraded the RAM, replaced a b0rked harddrive (up to 120 GB now!) and most recently replaced the battery. It's still a GREAT machine (best Mac laptop ever?) and I intend on keeping it for a while longer.

I do wish I had more speed and I get the latest-and-greatest itch from time to time, but then I look at my bank account.

I think I'll buy a desktop after the next round of updates after Leopard is released. I'll still keep the 12" for travel, school, etc because it still does what I need it to. What do you think, Mac Mini or iMac? I have a 2007FPW already for the Mac Mini.

 

[coledog]

Sept-2003 (i think) Compaq Laptop
Late 2004 Acer laptop
2005 HP Laptop
2006 Acer laptop (2nd)
June-2006 Macbook
March-2007 Macbook Pro
Since 2005 I've had a homebuilt desktop for gaming mainly. Upgraded it once.

We've done the handing-down thing with the Macbook.
All the others were sold on Ebay.

 

[blaster_boy]

Usually between 2 and a maximum of 4 years.

I have kept my laptop (a G4 867Mhz 12inch) for the last 3.5 years and plan to keep it. I'll probably hand the laptop down to my kid when he is a liiiiitle bit older.

I did buy an iMac C2D 24 inch 1.5 years after buying my mac mini (but that was due to an unexpected windfall).

I think that I'll keep the iMac for another 3 years or maybe even 4 - computers have become so powerful that I can do everything I need with them with no big speedloss. Plus this time I took AppleCare. The mac mini I'll be selling on eBay I guess.