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When do you consider your Mac outdated?
- Thread starter wrldwzrd89
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When they rip it from the fleshless hands of my lifeless corpse!!!! 
Hmmm, seriously, this is my first Mac, and I'm torn between trying to sell it and upgrade around Tiger's release, or just holding on to it, and seeing how long it can be useable.
To be honest, though, I kinda felt that way about my last laptop too, which was a Compaq P1/150 with 48 megs of ram (I had a desktop in between, or else work computers...ugh). I ran Win95 with it and stubbornly refused to upgrade (I did briefly have Linux but I had video card issues). I miss that computer. It had a trackball...mmm...trackball.
But my iBook I love much more. Much much more. So I'm torn...keep it, stay Panther, keep it, go Tiger, sell it, go Tiger.... I guess we'll see!
Hmmm, seriously, this is my first Mac, and I'm torn between trying to sell it and upgrade around Tiger's release, or just holding on to it, and seeing how long it can be useable.
To be honest, though, I kinda felt that way about my last laptop too, which was a Compaq P1/150 with 48 megs of ram (I had a desktop in between, or else work computers...ugh). I ran Win95 with it and stubbornly refused to upgrade (I did briefly have Linux but I had video card issues). I miss that computer. It had a trackball...mmm...trackball.
But my iBook I love much more. Much much more. So I'm torn...keep it, stay Panther, keep it, go Tiger, sell it, go Tiger.... I guess we'll see!
Perushka said:
They started selling this model in February 2003 (I ordered it the day it was released to upgrade from my 15" 800MHz FP iMac G4). I just sold mine in October to get the G5 iMac. Usually I upgrade every year or so but this one I kept for over a year-and-a-half b/c I just couldn't part with it. I still prefer the G4 design over the G5. I just do not feel as close to the G5 iMac as I did my G4's
I'll probably buy another G4 iMac someday to use as an internet machine when my wife and I settle down and buy a house.My average time for using a machine as a main machine is ~2 years. But my Mac seems so speedy and works so well for what I want it to do, I can imagine it lasting longer than that. Of course, I might be tempted by what is released in the future
I always find a use for old computers, though. I gave my last desktop to my dad to use on his network as a backup machine. The desktop before that is also still going strong, but I hardly switch it on nowadays (It's a Pentium 166Mhz). I put more RAM in my old Windows laptop (which I used before I bought the PB) and have it on the network as an IIS/MSDE server for my web design projects.
I always find a use for old computers, though. I gave my last desktop to my dad to use on his network as a backup machine. The desktop before that is also still going strong, but I hardly switch it on nowadays (It's a Pentium 166Mhz). I put more RAM in my old Windows laptop (which I used before I bought the PB) and have it on the network as an IIS/MSDE server for my web design projects.
Your Mac is outdated when it no longer can perform the tasks that need done. Whether that is one year or ten doesn't make much difference. If it works for it's intended purpose than leave it alone. I replaced my 500MHz G3 iBook when I wanted to use iDVD. My G3 iMac is still serving it's original purpose as a family computer for web browsing, print server, family web server, and kids school work. I won't replace it until it breaks or it can no longer run the software necessary for my kids school work.
i dont think ive ever replaced an 'outdated' computer. i use them until they wear out. then use them more. i still have a pentium II sitting in the corner of my room. it works (as well as any wintel box :-/) but i dont use it. i guess it was replaced b/c i dont have enough desk space for lots of monitors. as for my mac history i had an iMac through 3 logic board replacements before i got tired of it and got my PB. and i dont plan on replacing my PB anytime soon. its a rev A so all availible computers have more than an 867 mhz G4 right now. but it still rocks. i think i might get embareced though if wintel laptops started being faster than mine. but that will probably be a few years from now! happy upgrading!
my mac is outdated when i have enough money to buy a new one, which takes a while, i still havnt made the jump to a G5
I'll probably never consider it outdated, but I'll probably make several adjustments along the way just to make sure. For instance, once Tiger comes out, I'm putting 2-1GB sticks in my PB. I like RAM.
outdated?
I didn't know macs became outdated...okay in all honesty though my parents have had the original iMac DV since it was available. 400mhz, slot-load, no burner or dvd. 320 ram and it runs panther like a champ, even with 5 users on it. (most of which never log out thanks to fast user switching) that thing has seen hell, and gets treated like crap (im the only one who comes over and cares for it) but it serves its purpose and always will. internet, email. bada bing bada boom.
I didn't know macs became outdated...okay in all honesty though my parents have had the original iMac DV since it was available. 400mhz, slot-load, no burner or dvd. 320 ram and it runs panther like a champ, even with 5 users on it. (most of which never log out thanks to fast user switching) that thing has seen hell, and gets treated like crap (im the only one who comes over and cares for it) but it serves its purpose and always will. internet, email. bada bing bada boom.
I could turn that argument around and say that the new PowerBooks, for example, were out of date the moment they were released because they can't boot anything older than the current Mac OS X release, 10.3.7 (or 10.3.8 if that's what Apple ends up releasing with the PowerBooks)...then again, that doesn't make much sense, does it?MacNut said:
I considered my first PB 12" (867 MHz) rev. a outdated when the iBook reached 1GHz, USB 2.0, OK, no screen spanning but there is a hack, the graphic card seems to be better and it's not so hot... I had 384 MB RAM because apple delivered 128 on the board and now I have 768 MB sold that one and with the money got this one with BT and AE, bigger HD, that was a big change... I will consider this outdated when the iBooks come with a 64 MB graphics card for Tiger, or when I get enough money to sell this and with some money extra get the next rev. on the PB line, personally this latest rev. don't groove it totally against my iBook (Not for my needs, by now) ...
sold that one and with the money got this one with BT and AE, bigger HD, that was a big change... I will consider this outdated when the iBooks come with a 64 MB graphics card for Tiger, or when I get enough money to sell this and with some money extra get the next rev. on the PB line, personally this latest rev. don't groove it totally against my iBook (Not for my needs, by now) ...
You're pretty much like me then - you wait until your Mac is completely outdated in just about every aspect before replacing it (at least that's what I plan to do with this iMac - it turns 1 year old on February 6, 2005).AmigoMac said:I considered my first PB 12" (867 MHz) rev. a outdated when the iBook reached 1GHz, USB 2.0, OK, no screen spanning but there is a hack, the graphic card seems to be better and it's not so hot... I had 384 MB RAM because apple delivered 128 on the board and now I have 768 MB
I'm about to upgrade my MDDs processor to a 1.42GHz DP machine - I'll get another two years out of it then. I haven't got the money for a new powermac and I prefer the MDD form factor anyway. My G3 ibook is getting a bit left behind though, so I guess I'll upgrade that when Applecare runs out - November.Blue Velvet said:This is a painful subject to even consider...
Having bought a dual G4 1.42 3 weeks before the G5s were released, it's a rather sensitive topic... still at least it's got FW800, Superdrive, 2gb RAM.
I will consider this machine outdated when I can no longer run the latest OS & apps on it but will probably replace in about 2-3 years time depending on my bank balance.
So my choice would be number 4.
(ALL current Macs, regardless of price level, beating mine on ALL items on the tech specs page.)
wrldwzrd89 said:
Ohh! we have something in common ...
Yes, this iBook will be 1 year in may and I'm looking forward to see what
the next rev. brings, will be a long time before seeing a new rev. maybe 2/3 weeks before WWDC ... Looking forward to get one for my girl...
My iMac will become outdated the day I can convince my wife that its outdated. Until then its just wishful thinking.
When was using Windows machines, I replaced them about every 3 years. That was when they became unusable (one literally blew up in the middle of the night... it sounded like gunfire in my room and I found the CD tray open with the CD across the room. Noboby has been able to tell me why it happened. Another died very slowly and on its third birthday expired.)
I think that when it can't run the latest iteration of OS software is when its outdated.
When was using Windows machines, I replaced them about every 3 years. That was when they became unusable (one literally blew up in the middle of the night... it sounded like gunfire in my room and I found the CD tray open with the CD across the room. Noboby has been able to tell me why it happened. Another died very slowly and on its third birthday expired.)
I think that when it can't run the latest iteration of OS software is when its outdated.
A computer is seriously outdated when the latest version of the standard platform OS (Mac OS or Windows) cannot run on it, but that is not to say it's obsolete; you can do a lot with OS 9 or Windows 98. If it has OS X (Jaguar/Panther) or Windows (XP and maybe even 2000) but cannot at least theoretically run the latest Microsoft Office, either it's out of date or you need to buy more RAM and prolong its usable life a bit.
But as a pratical matter, my upgrade cycle system is like this:
Laptops: Generally about 3 years, roundabouts when a battery goes bad near that time. Displays are looking bad by then, the hard drive has taken a lot of bumps, and the computer itself is probably either seriously outdated per the above or else simply cannot run much recent software. I don't want to have a laptop die in the line of duty, so I am probably replacing my iBook next year with either a 12" PowerBook or another iBook. My sister will probably get my current iBook, since it'll probably still be running then, just not likely to much longer withstand the bumps and manic typing of college life.
Desktops: I have two of these in serious usage, two more old ones floating around for old games. I like keep at least one of the two main desktops under 3 years. I'll probably keep the current ones until they wear out, though if the Dell becomes even worse than usual for a Dell I might pop it out for a Mac mini, particularly if it ever needs any expensive (i.e. beyond a drive or so) repairs; it's hitting the big #3 in December and I don't think it'd be worth replacing the proprietary mobo if it went bad.
But as a pratical matter, my upgrade cycle system is like this:
Laptops: Generally about 3 years, roundabouts when a battery goes bad near that time. Displays are looking bad by then, the hard drive has taken a lot of bumps, and the computer itself is probably either seriously outdated per the above or else simply cannot run much recent software. I don't want to have a laptop die in the line of duty, so I am probably replacing my iBook next year with either a 12" PowerBook or another iBook. My sister will probably get my current iBook, since it'll probably still be running then, just not likely to much longer withstand the bumps and manic typing of college life.
Desktops: I have two of these in serious usage, two more old ones floating around for old games. I like keep at least one of the two main desktops under 3 years. I'll probably keep the current ones until they wear out, though if the Dell becomes even worse than usual for a Dell I might pop it out for a Mac mini, particularly if it ever needs any expensive (i.e. beyond a drive or so) repairs; it's hitting the big #3 in December and I don't think it'd be worth replacing the proprietary mobo if it went bad.
6 years! Wow. Long time.
I generally used to do a 2 year upgrade path, alternating my powerbook and my powermac every other year.
Since 1998:
1998: G3 266. 512mb ram. 20gb HD. CD-Rom. (ol' beige)
1999: G3 333. 256mb ram. 10gb HD. CD-Rom. (Lombard)
2000: G4 450x2. 768mb ram. 2x40gb HD. CD-Rom. (Graphite case)
2001: G4 667. 512mb Ram. 30gb HD. CD-Rom (tibook)
2002: G4 1ghz x 2. 1.5gb ram. 2x80gb HD. Superdrive (1x! Quicksilver)
2003: G4 1ghz. 768mb ram. 40gb HD. Combo Drive (12" al-book)
2004: G5 1.8x2. 2gb ram. 2x250 HD. 8x Superdrive.
2005? Probably will break my cycle. Buying a D2x and 17-55 (revenuee will know what i'm talking about!) so I think I might have maybe a dollar or two when it's all said and done.
I generally used to do a 2 year upgrade path, alternating my powerbook and my powermac every other year.
Since 1998:
1998: G3 266. 512mb ram. 20gb HD. CD-Rom. (ol' beige)
1999: G3 333. 256mb ram. 10gb HD. CD-Rom. (Lombard)
2000: G4 450x2. 768mb ram. 2x40gb HD. CD-Rom. (Graphite case)
2001: G4 667. 512mb Ram. 30gb HD. CD-Rom (tibook)
2002: G4 1ghz x 2. 1.5gb ram. 2x80gb HD. Superdrive (1x! Quicksilver)
2003: G4 1ghz. 768mb ram. 40gb HD. Combo Drive (12" al-book)
2004: G5 1.8x2. 2gb ram. 2x250 HD. 8x Superdrive.
2005? Probably will break my cycle. Buying a D2x and 17-55 (revenuee will know what i'm talking about!) so I think I might have maybe a dollar or two when it's all said and done.
revenuee said:
If you shoot RAW with the D2X and will be using both Nikon Capture and Photoshop, save a few dollars for a RAM upgrade on the G5.Moxiemike said:...
2004: G5 1.8x2. 2gb ram. 2x250 HD. 8x Superdrive.
2005? Probably will break my cycle. Buying a D2x and 17-55 (revenuee will know what i'm talking about!) so I think I might have maybe a dollar or two when it's all said and done.
That's a real nice lens and the camera look sreal good as well. I'm waiting to see what Nikon announcs at PMA before making a decision about upgrading my D100.
Upgrading for my family has usually been 4-5 years apart. We currently have an iMac G3 400 Mhz. I guess we would fall into the #4 category... Except that the processors on even the iBooks have bypassed that computer by almost 3x.. I got a 17" 1.33 Ghz PowerBook to come to College with. I got that October/November 2003, after the new models had been introduced. Apple came out with new models a few months after that ... but Oh well. My mom just ordered a new 12" PowerBook 1.5 Ghz with 80 Gb HD. Between the new PowerBook and the iMac, they should be set for quite a few years. Or so they hope... I'll probably need a new computer by the time I get out of college in 3 years... Heaven knows that a 1.33 Ghz G4 isn't going to be able to withstand 3 years of OS X upgrades... :/
I got a 17" 1.33 Ghz PowerBook to come to College with. I got that October/November 2003, after the new models had been introduced. Apple came out with new models a few months after that ... but Oh well. My mom just ordered a new 12" PowerBook 1.5 Ghz with 80 Gb HD. Between the new PowerBook and the iMac, they should be set for quite a few years. Or so they hope... I'll probably need a new computer by the time I get out of college in 3 years... Heaven knows that a 1.33 Ghz G4 isn't going to be able to withstand 3 years of OS X upgrades... :/