On average, how often do you guys buy a new computer?

[Isamilis]

Until it breaks. I have iMac 2010, MBP 2011 and MBA 2012, they are still going strong... I think, Apple intent to make their product usable for a long time.

 

[n8mac]

I haven't bought a new mac or any computer since 1999. Since then I have been a mac user on a cheap PC budget, so I only buy used macs now. So far so good.

1999 - G3 iMac (new)
2007 - G4 Powermac (2000)
2008 - G4 Powermac (2002) still works but in closet
2010 - G5 Powermac (2004) still works
2013 - C2D iMac (2007) main machine

So 3.5 years on a used budget.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

These days, between every two and a half and three years. Ever since I switched to Apple, Applecare (and when it will expire) has determined my computer buying cycle; before that, ever since I started buying laptops in 1998, my purchase cycle was between every three to four years.

 

[senseless]

I used to upgrade every 4 years, but now I'm probably good for 7 years at this point. Desktops just don't change much anymore.

 

[sviato]

2005- PC desktop
2012- MacBook Air
2016- will likely pick up a MacBook Pro retina that year

 

[malman89]

When they break - or more likely, when they're no longer capable of efficiently completing my every day tasks.

I had an HP laptop for over 4 years until the screen burned out - I would LAN/game on that thing for hours and hours. Then in early 2007 I purchased the Late 2006 MacBook in my sig. I finally replaced that this past summer. It still 'works' - admittedly, better in XP than in OS X - but very poorly.

I also needed to run software for class that was not supported by OS X or Windows XP, so I decided to finally upgrade. It was long overdue - the (second) battery swelled, leaving me without one and just plugged in 24/7.

I plan on getting the most use out of my Lenovo as possible before finding a new machine. I would wager that's a good 5 years or so.