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How long you guys keep your laptops?
- Thread starter hcho3
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I bought my MBP in August 2006.
The idea was for it to be my main computer but I missed the desktop too much and ended up getting a 24" iMac. Now it's just the '2nd computer' which I use for browsing and light work around the house and in the garden in the summer.
It's not worth a lot any more so I'll probably just run it as long as I can until it eventually dies.
The idea was for it to be my main computer but I missed the desktop too much and ended up getting a 24" iMac. Now it's just the '2nd computer' which I use for browsing and light work around the house and in the garden in the summer.
It's not worth a lot any more so I'll probably just run it as long as I can until it eventually dies.
I have typically done a little better than that at ~30-35% depreciation. It does of course greatly depends on the magnitude of change on the newer revisions (of that model) that are out at the time I am selling and the condition of the MB (Apple buyers tend to be very picky)...
I intend to keep this one 2 years. That's how long I kept my Rev B (almost to the day). That said, I purchased the Rev A in February and then sold it to buy the Rev B in November of that year. I took a hit, but the SSD and graphics card in the Rev B was definitely worth it. (For reference, before that I had a Dell Inspiron 600m that I kept for 4 years but upgraded the RAM and CPU along the way before donating it to charity).
The Rev C was barely an upgrade so I skipped it (1.86 to 2.13GHz and little else). The Rev D came with better heat management (less throttling), more RAM, an extra USB port, SD port, better graphics, a bigger and faster SSD, and higher resolution so I figured it was worth it. If Apple keeps the "other" specs the same next year and just swaps out the Core 2 Duo for a Core i3/i5/i7 with Sandy Bridge I'll probably just wait for the second revision with the Core i3/i5/i7.
It definitely gets expensive keeping up with the "latest" but I've always preferred ultra portables (the Inspiron was a brick by comparison).
The Rev C was barely an upgrade so I skipped it (1.86 to 2.13GHz and little else). The Rev D came with better heat management (less throttling), more RAM, an extra USB port, SD port, better graphics, a bigger and faster SSD, and higher resolution so I figured it was worth it. If Apple keeps the "other" specs the same next year and just swaps out the Core 2 Duo for a Core i3/i5/i7 with Sandy Bridge I'll probably just wait for the second revision with the Core i3/i5/i7.
It definitely gets expensive keeping up with the "latest" but I've always preferred ultra portables (the Inspiron was a brick by comparison).
I'm upgrading from a 15" PB that I bought in March 2003...so over 7 years!
Having said that, my laptop is not my primary computer.
Having said that, my laptop is not my primary computer.
I bought my $500 HP DM3z with the specs in the signature on October 22, 2009 so it's about 13 months old. Does everything I need it to... 1080P h.264 video, 720P Youtube video, iTunes, web browsing, word, and light gaming.
Once I go off the college next year I plan on buying a new laptop in August and giving this one to my brother. Hopefully a new MacBook Air is out by then so I can decide between the updated Lenovo X201, the updated Lenovo X100e, and the MacBook Air.
Once I go off the college next year I plan on buying a new laptop in August and giving this one to my brother. Hopefully a new MacBook Air is out by then so I can decide between the updated Lenovo X201, the updated Lenovo X100e, and the MacBook Air.
Until it no longer works! But, I replace my laptops when the technology is sufficiently advanced to give me a faster/better/more convenient computer.
For laptops I still have a 2003 iBook G4 that I use as a music server. I have a 2009 white MacBook that I use for some things, and a shiny new 11.6 MBA that I use for my portable needs.
My iBook was my only laptop for 6 years, my 2009 white MacBook was my primary laptop for 1 1/2 years. I will use the MBA as long as "practical", hopefully at least 2 years.
Andy
For laptops I still have a 2003 iBook G4 that I use as a music server. I have a 2009 white MacBook that I use for some things, and a shiny new 11.6 MBA that I use for my portable needs.
My iBook was my only laptop for 6 years, my 2009 white MacBook was my primary laptop for 1 1/2 years. I will use the MBA as long as "practical", hopefully at least 2 years.
Andy
12-18 months.
I have the money to purchase it, BUT apple products hold resale value very very well. Sold my mid-2009 MBP 13" for $1000. Made my MBA purchase come out to $800.
I have the money to purchase it, BUT apple products hold resale value very very well. Sold my mid-2009 MBP 13" for $1000. Made my MBA purchase come out to $800.
Probably 4-6 years, depending if the keys are starting to wear out.
I used to have an IBM Thinkpad laptop I bought in 2003. Officially replaced in 2008 with an HP Mini netbook which I then sold recently to get a 2010 MBA. Thats about 5 years of good use and its pretty worn out especially the plastic keyboard and chasis which are falling apart and its hilarious to look at.
Apple makes solid aluminum computers that are much more durable and will last much longer. I wonder how long my MacPro' 08 will get replaced since my previous desktop was an IBM AMD Duron 700 Mhz that lasted me for 7 long years.
I used to have an IBM Thinkpad laptop I bought in 2003. Officially replaced in 2008 with an HP Mini netbook which I then sold recently to get a 2010 MBA. Thats about 5 years of good use and its pretty worn out especially the plastic keyboard and chasis which are falling apart and its hilarious to look at.
Apple makes solid aluminum computers that are much more durable and will last much longer. I wonder how long my MacPro' 08 will get replaced since my previous desktop was an IBM AMD Duron 700 Mhz that lasted me for 7 long years.
IBM AMD Duron 700 Mhz that lasted me for 7 long years.
Seven long years.
Four slow years.
I make my living doing the traveling IT consultant thing and use my machines a lot. I'll tend to trade up for a relatively small but real benefit.
Given Apples release schedule is about annual my typical upgrade path tends to be around 12-24 months, sometimes as much as 36. Usually there is enough real benefit for me to upgrade when a new model of something I have is released. But i've skipped the odd cycle with a MB or MBP or MBA when I saw little tangible benefit for me.
Given Apples release schedule is about annual my typical upgrade path tends to be around 12-24 months, sometimes as much as 36. Usually there is enough real benefit for me to upgrade when a new model of something I have is released. But i've skipped the odd cycle with a MB or MBP or MBA when I saw little tangible benefit for me.
My answer as to how long I keep my Macs is, it depends. My first Mac, a 17 inch Powerbook G4, was my front line computer for 5 years. In early 2008 I bought a 17 inch Santa Rosa and it was my primary machine for nearly 3 years, although I still used the PB G4 occasionally. I got a 13 inch Ultimate MBA late last month. I still use the MBP for some things but the MBA has taken over at least 95 percent of my computing chores. One of the things I have liked about the Powerbooks, the MBPs and the MBAs is their aluminum cases. With reasonable care they look as good after many years of use as they did when they were brand new. In fact, even today, it takes another Apple nerd to distinguish my PB G4 from the far newer MBP. With the exception of the location of a few of the ports they look alike.
~4 years
About every 4 years, excluding occasional RAM upgrade and battery replacement.
My early 2007 MBA (Mac-Book-Amateur) is still serving me well, except for the standard wrist-area crack and ongoing regular pause-click events.
Technology seems to have advanced to the point now that I think it's worth upgrading to a new MBA (Mac-Book-Air) very soon. I think it's interesting that even though the technology is 4-years-on, all I'm really upgrading for is the 4GB of RAM and portability. The HD size and processor speed are still quite sufficient for my needs (an external HD disk at home making up for storage, and computers at work doing heavy computation). Maybe we've reached something of a saturation point in those areas for laptops? At least for some people.
Apart from a possible battery replacement somewhere along the line, I'm hoping the new MBA lasts me until 2014/15!
About every 4 years, excluding occasional RAM upgrade and battery replacement.
My early 2007 MBA (Mac-Book-Amateur) is still serving me well, except for the standard wrist-area crack and ongoing regular pause-click events.
Technology seems to have advanced to the point now that I think it's worth upgrading to a new MBA (Mac-Book-Air) very soon. I think it's interesting that even though the technology is 4-years-on, all I'm really upgrading for is the 4GB of RAM and portability. The HD size and processor speed are still quite sufficient for my needs (an external HD disk at home making up for storage, and computers at work doing heavy computation). Maybe we've reached something of a saturation point in those areas for laptops? At least for some people.
Apart from a possible battery replacement somewhere along the line, I'm hoping the new MBA lasts me until 2014/15!
resale value is the key
I typically swap my laptop every 2 or 2.5 years. I always get Applecare and it's really easy to sell a second-hand laptop that's still under warranty. With that in mind I will be picking up either the 11" or 13" MBA next summer once Apple have their back-to-school promotion underway. I'll hope to get $600-$800 for my existing laptop.
I typically swap my laptop every 2 or 2.5 years. I always get Applecare and it's really easy to sell a second-hand laptop that's still under warranty. With that in mind I will be picking up either the 11" or 13" MBA next summer once Apple have their back-to-school promotion underway. I'll hope to get $600-$800 for my existing laptop.
Still using my late 2006 MBP. It's a 2.33 Ghz C2D with ATI X1600 graphics. I upgraded it about a year ago to 4 GB of RAM and dual 500 GB 7200 rpm hard drives. Still does everything I need just fine.
I'm planning to upgrade after the next refresh, which I'm guessing will happen in Spring/Summer 2011.
In the UK we can write company computers off against tax over 3 years so I aim to keep my machines for 3 years. I buy top spec so even after 3 years they tend to be still pretty reasonably spec'ed machines. My XPS M1330 has specs not far off the 13.1" MBA Ultimate but they're perfectly adequate for day-to-day use. It works out at a pretty good deal and you certainly feel like you deserve to spend some cash after waiting patiently for all that time.
Cheers,
jahman
.Cheers,
jahman
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i typically upgraded my laptop every 2.5-3 years, but that was on my parent's dime (thanks mom and dad, if you're reading). Now that I actually have a job though, I'll probably upgrade whenever I'd be able to realize a tangible benefit.
I always try to keep my tech in pristine like-new condition in order to get the best resale, which helps offset the cost of my upgrade-itis.
I always try to keep my tech in pristine like-new condition in order to get the best resale, which helps offset the cost of my upgrade-itis.
For me I u@grade every two years as that always leaves a year on applecare so they are super easy to sell.
Heh... I kept that Windows machine optimized at the system level which I've been using to render 3D CGI and AfterEffects.
One of the factors that made me fully upgrade was that after updating from Adobe's Flash player 8 to version 9, it slowed flash websites and it was a slideshow to watch h.264 videos on the web.Upgrading to a MacPro from that old box is more than night and day in comparison.
About 2, 2.5 years.
I've had:
pre-Intel Powerbook G4 1.25 ("ultimate") 17"
white macbook
black macbook
pre-Unibody MBP 17 2.5/4/320
Now have: MBA13 Ultimate. Best. Damned. Computer. Ever.
So far, I always get Applecare, and always sell before the warranty is over. Dates don't add up above because I've had to have multiple simul. machines (girlfriend). Add in her macbook 13", a core 2 mini and a g4 mini and its been a breeze.
G.
I've had:
pre-Intel Powerbook G4 1.25 ("ultimate") 17"
white macbook
black macbook
pre-Unibody MBP 17 2.5/4/320
Now have: MBA13 Ultimate. Best. Damned. Computer. Ever.
So far, I always get Applecare, and always sell before the warranty is over. Dates don't add up above because I've had to have multiple simul. machines (girlfriend). Add in her macbook 13", a core 2 mini and a g4 mini and its been a breeze.
G.