I know I'm frugal but

[bluebug32]

Wow, a 10-15 year-old-computer. That's a crazy long time for one to hold out.

Good luck with the new one. I think computers are like cars, a necessary evil.

ps. Buy a Mac

[Irulan]

I"m surprised you could even still do anything on it.

[VeganBikeChick]

ps. Buy a Mac

Yes Yes Yes!!

[shootingstar]

Wow, a 10-15 year-old-computer. That's a crazy long time for one to hold out.

Good luck with the new one. I think computers are like cars, a necessary evil.

ps. Buy a Mac

I think it is possible to have a computer last that long, provided one does the basic upgrade on operating platforms, email, word processing and Internet browser.

How many people really use a fantastic complicated, mathematical piece of software...beyond Excel and perform lots of sophisticated macro-based calculations for personal use (not work-related)? You don't need a super duper computer for that.

If one does photo adjustments, regularily, then having a faster computer does help or what I do is blogging or alot of Internet surfing daily, which having a computer that uploads faster is helpful.

Unless a person is maintaining a huge database for personal reasons.... Not I. I do stuff like that on the job...and leave it behind at work.

Maybe someone can tell me, but I've heard from several info tech folks in different workplaces tell me that generally, laptops do not last as long as good desktop computer. Have things changed?

[ny biker]

So for all these years you had a 3.5 inch disk drive and no USB ports? I assume you at least upgraded the RAM a few times.

Enjoy the new machine.

[Owlie]

I'm impressed that you got ten years out of a computer. I don't think even the family desktops lasted any more than 5-6 years.

Shootingstar, it would not surprise me if a laptop doesn't last as long as a desktop. For one, it's being dragged everywhere, so that puts unnecessary stress on parts, plus the parts are smaller and probably more fragile. Then there's the fan issue, because some manufacturers put the fan on the bottom, for some reason, so they heat up and fry themselves.

I'd prefer a desktop as a primary computer and a netbook for mobility, but I'm moving every year or so, and it would be a PITA to keep moving the desktop.

[Koronin]

When our desktop well had issues which I could not resolve and hubby had already moved due to a job I went a head and bought a laptop knowing it would just be simpler when the time came to move. Well after that move and then another one (from rental to home purchase) it was simpler to have the laptop. Now that we're here hubby bought a new desktop and is planning on eventually hooking up the old computer to act as a server and to play older games on.

[macski]

Just replaced a 6 year old computer today - it was so slow it was almost unworkable. DP had tried to clean it up to see if that made a difference but it didn't. I don't use it much because I use my iPad almost exclusively but there are some things I still need it for and I was close to throwing it out the window in frustration earlier this week.

And I got a Mac (just for VeganBikeChick and bluebug32)

[Catrin]

My average computer "lifespan" has been 7-10 years. My most recent computer rocks and has impressive resources - and was quite expensive. However, I run computationally intense scientific models at work and when I purchased this computer I was doing a lot of work at home - insanely long days between work and home for a time. No more, I finally had to stop doing that...

If you stay up on OS updates and know how to maintain your computer, it isn't too hard to keep the computer going for that long. It really depends what you use your computer for. Many of us don't need the newest and best technology to do what we need to do with our computers, it just all depends. At some point, of course, you have to decide if the slower speeds are worth it.

I did purchase a laptop a few years back to support a side business I was trying to start, and I found that I hated it. I just don't like to use them, and the only way I could make it comfortable for me to use was to turn it into a pseudo desktop - connect it to an external keyboard and monitor. It was quite nice, but I wound up just giving it to someone I knew who could use it. I won't repeat the experiment.

[bluebug32]

Maybe someone can tell me, but I've heard from several info tech folks in different workplaces tell me that generally, laptops do not last as long as good desktop computer. Have things changed?

They're usually not as upgradable and much more expensive to upgrade. Compact comes at a price, though I love my laptop.

[Gypsy]

No laptops don't last as long, because they are usually (not always) built for lightness, rather than durability. In my company, laptops usually have a max life of 3 years and then they get replaced, while desktops can last 4 years before being replaced. And to be honest, a laptop at 3 years is usually already a crappy one, probably having gone through a hard drive replacement or something else.

I've always had laptops, my father got started me on them and I've only had a desktop once. I like being able to move around... sit on the couch or in bed or at a desk. When I lived in smaller places (like studios or one bedrooms apts) I could be happy with a desktop because chances were my living room was my tv room/office/kitchen area too.

I have both Mac and PCs now.

[smilingcat]

Finally have my new machine. I've always bought piecemeal computer and I have always put it together and loaded the operating system myself.

This computer is tad different in that its not your regular home computer. And I just can't afford it not to work. It has to work. It has to load up the operating system and work. Just too expensive not to work.

Finally, I've got the operating system loaded up and it looks like its okay. Whew!!
Nerve rattling always when working at "bleeding edge" of technology. You never know if it is going to work or not.

This machine will be good for 15 years or more I hope. My last machine which I will be retiring has lasted since 1992 or 1993. I found a box with manuals and dates on some of the recipts.

[Irulan]

um, what makes it so special?

just replaced a 5 year old desktop with a win7 pro 64 bit w/ i5 processor w/8gigs of RAM. (desktop)It wasn't terribly expensive and it was built by a local place. I love custom/local builds, no crap ware to delete.

[Biciclista]

yeah i want to know what is so special about your new computer ??
congrats anyway.

[shootingstar]

geekoid fact sheet:

Yea, really smilingcat.

Congrats. on your computer. May it last beyond...your retirement.