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How often do you upgrade/replace your macbook pro or laptop?

I used my iBook 366 Indigo from 2003 until 2006 when I got the original MacBook Pro. I sold that one a year later for my current 07 2.16GHz MacBook Pro and I really don't see myself replacing this one until it breaks. Its really much faster than I need and doesn't see much time off my desk (I use my 12" Powerbook or TiBook on the go) so with the exception of natural hardware failure, I don't see it dying anytime soon. I just don't want to spend the money on a new computer, and the current MBP lineup doesn't really appeal to me.
 
If I am able to get a good deal on my current MBP, if not then until it can't handle apps anymore. I tend to upgrade my desktop every 2 years since its cheaper to get parts rather than the whole laptop.
 
Eggtastic said:
Just curious... also why do you choose this time frame? Because macs are built to last a LONG time.
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I replaced my 2007 black MB in June (gave it to my cousin for HS graduation) with a new 13" MBP. However, the black MB was still running like a champ and I guarantee I'd still have it had I not given it to my cousin. I'll end up replacing my current MBP in 3-4 years. It's all about your needs; if your needs change, upgrade. If not, keep your Mac.

Habitus :apple:
 
no real rules. I went from imac > macbook > 15" uMBP pretty quickly though. I think I was just finding out what suited me. Portability is important, and slightly larger than 13" screen.

In theory I should be happy with this, but I keep looking jealously at the battery life on the new MBPs. I'm going to try and hold out for proper quad cores though. Then I can reasonably use any replacement docked as a decent desktop replacement too.

Not decided yet whether I'll pass this on down the family (eldest son will be 9, so a little young for a MBP), or sell it to help fund the upgrade.


Will be buying an ipad in the meantime, and I'll use that to help me understand whether I need another laptop or whether to return to a desktop.
 
Still on my first Macbook Pro, bought late 2006. Applecare has just run out on it, but it's still going strong and I've better things to spend money on currently. Had a logic board replacement done (under warranty) after an EFI update killed the old one somehow. Also had a new battery under warranty as well, so Applecare certainly paid for itself.

It still looks great, like new really and even though I do quite demanding 3d graphics work, it's usable for most things although rendering gets the fans going at full tilt in seconds.

I do really like the Unibody design though. I may go for the update after this one if finances allow.
 
niuniu said:
Had this thing 3 years now and it still plays the latest games. It is time to upgrade though, and I'm surprised it lasted this long to be frank. This was my first Mac so I'm not used to this quality of manufacture. My next MBP I will expect to last a minimum of 2 years up to 3 or more..

This time I won't be buying base model, as I think you have to upgrade sooner if you go down that road. I'll be going for the best card/processor I get it into a 15incher.
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Yes, never buy the base model !

In 3-6 months the top model will be in the middle and the base model so limited that it will frustrate anybody.

The best advice I have seen so far is buy the top model , get apple care and when apple care is up and you can't extend it (I think some you can) buy again!

That's 3 years per model and you always have a Mac in warranty.
 
Thunderhawks said:
Yes, never buy the base model !

In 3-6 months the top model will be in the middle and the base model so limited that it will frustrate anybody.

The best advice I have seen so far is buy the top model , get apple care and when apple care is up and you can't extend it (I think some you can) buy again!

That's 3 years per model and you always have a Mac in warranty.
Click to expand...

Umm... yes because my 2.26 ghz w/ 4gb macbookpro 13 feels so slow now that it's 7 months later. that extra 266mhz would have made it seem amazingly fast now that we have i5 i7 laptops.
 
I seem to upgrade every 8-10 months. I pretty much have had every update for the past 4 years. I just resell my laptops just as the refresh is happening and pay $200-500 for a new computer. Its worth it for me, and I like selling my old great laptops to new people, helping to spread the Apple love. I just got this one a month ago and will probably move it once the Arrandales hit refurb... should they ever come out!
 
still kicking after all of these years

My 12" PowerBook G4 1.33ghz with all of its 768mb of ram is still alive and well. I purchased the computer in september 2004 and somehow its still kickin!! :cool:

I would definitely like to upgrade to a new SandyBridge uMBP 15" with 1.5GB of vram, USB3, and ExpressCard2....as long as it has BlueRay!! :D
 
Before this, my first Mac, I would upgrade my PC laptops every 3-7 months either due to them becoming too slow or breaking. Then I got pre-ordered the Early 2009 17" Unibody MacBook Pro as a 21st bday pressie! :)

I've had this almost a year now, and other than 3 small problems that have gradually developed, it's still running fast and reliably. I took the 3 year AppleCare and hopefully will keep this for the length of that. Eventually will take it for the 3 hour trip to the Apple Store and get the few problems looked at.

None the less if these new MBP's are worth upgrading to I'll definitely be pushing AppleCare for an exchange a month or two after they are released in the Apple Store's :p
 
Before this, my first Mac, I would upgrade my PC laptops every 3-7 months either due to them becoming too slow or breaking. Then I got pre-ordered the Early 2009 17" Unibody MacBook Pro as a 21st bday pressie!

Woah, 3 months?
 
Thunderhawks said:
Yes, never buy the base model !

In 3-6 months the top model will be in the middle and the base model so limited that it will frustrate anybody.

The best advice I have seen so far is buy the top model , get apple care and when apple care is up and you can't extend it (I think some you can) buy again!

That's 3 years per model and you always have a Mac in warranty.
Click to expand...

Good advice, this is what I go by. Also, I've never had a Mac last more than three years so every three-four years max I get a new one as the one I had is f'ed.
 
I got a refurb'd MB in late 2006 and use it still. Would drop it for a new one even if i had the money. Upgraded 80gb HD to 320 and max'd ram to 4gb (only recognizes 3 :( though)
 
This will be my first 17" MBP!!!

I think I want to go with a 2 to 2 1/2 year replacement, as I would be getting the AppleCare Protection, and would like to sell the old laptop with the AppleCare. This would offer some assurance to the buyer, and would hopefully get me a little more for the older laptop.
 
I've had the pre-Santa Rosa MBP in my sig for 3 years this month, and it still does very well for my uses. I'll likely hold out for another year before updating. I've maxed-out the RAM, and I keep thinking of upgrading the internal HD (currently still using the stock 120GB) but I am not the handiest of people around, and am leery of taking my MBP part to do so. The battery is near dead (25% health per iStat), but I pretty much never need to use it w/out a outlet nearby.
 
i bought my mbp of oct 09 of last yr. Bought the 3 yr applecare and plan on going for the full 3 yrs before replacement.

Seems like a good deal because then i can sell and buy what's current and new.
 
I got a black Macbook in April 2007 and it still works really well! Had an issue with the screen flickering but after bringing it to the Apple guy and getting a new inverter, it's perfect again. AppleCare FTW.
I do notice the slowness esp when using photoshop or iMovie. I can't do anything else but that one thing when I'm in either of those programs. I am tentatively planning now to get a 13" MBP maxed out with ram/processor/HD right before I graduate from grad school next year, so I can get the student discount still. This little guy only has 1GB ram and I def notice it. But for what it's supposed to do, it works like a charm. I'll never buy a PC again.
 
My Macbook timeline goes like this.
April 2006 White Macbook 1.83ghz core duo, 1 gig of ram, 80 gig HD
November 2008 Unibody Macbook 2.0ghz core two duo, 2 gigs of ram, 160 gig HD
September 2010 15" Macbook Pro Core i7, 4 gigs of ram, 500 gig HD

So every two years or so basically.
Oddly enough, apple has drawn me to a higher end model, each and every time.
 
I love old computers with an history. So I will keep my Yonah MBP as long as I can, I use it for web browsing and CS3 and it's working fine...
 
Was planning on three years, but Apple is replacing it after less than two.

I kind of like having a super nice maxed out machine and watching it remain flawless while aging against newer machines every 8-9 months...it kind of makes you say "Yeah, this one was the cream of the crop when I got it, still going strong and looking good next to the new ones." I don't know why, I know that sounds weird. It's like you almost appreciate it more as it ages.

Plus then it makes it that much sweeter when you do upgrade and there's a smorgasbord of new features over yours--you appreciate the new one more too.
 
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