How often do you replace your Mac?

Sad Professor

Curious to know what everyone's upgrade cycle is like - how often do you like to replace your desktop or notebook?

Macs are supposed to have longevity. But there's also the need (perhaps for work related reasons) for a new, bigger, faster machine. Or maybe the appeal of new features. You might still keep your old one of course, and even continue using it in some capacity, but when do you feel it's time to upgrade?

Do you need the latest and greatest? Do you buy the low end model and upgrade often? Or do you get the high-end model and keep it as long as possible? Do you sell the old machine or keep it?

Obviously there are other factors, such as financial considerations, whether you see any reason too upgrade, etc. Is their anyone with a really old Mac who sees no reason to upgrade?

Dont be at yourself

Every 3 years

I've bought a new mac roughly every two years, but still keep the old ones in service.

I'll probably be ordering a tablet at the end of the month, even though I only bought a mbp last year!

silvine

This is my first Mac so the jury is still out. It's a year and half old and I can't see myself upgrading it this year though.

Gauge

My Macbook is almost three. Aside from it constantly breaking and needing repairs (sigh) I'm still happy with it specs-wise. Use it for photoshop, illustrator and flash.

conchubhar1

Whenever I can afford a new one

second macbook - only paid for one as the original was accidently damaged. 3 1/2 years.

i would still be on tiger and the original macbook if i had to be the one paying..... feckin 1000 odd euro but so worth it.

doccy

The last time my cat jumped on it and cracked the screen. Then a day later I stood on it. And I loved that iBook.

babypink

Every 4 years

every 2/3 years!

or, if i find that my architecture is not going to be supported anymore......68K & PPC!!! wooo!! :-D

PhilipMarlowe

Typing this on my 1 Ghz PowerBook G4 17" from mid 2003 (now running Tiger).
I bought it as a desktop replacement when switching over from windows at the time.
Struggles a bit with modern websites, video... but for most stuff that I need it for it's still fine.
Have my eye on the current i7 27" iMac when finances allow.... will still keep the PowerBook, probably in the kitchen... handy for looking up stuff, shopping, that kind of thing.

doccy

babypink wrote: »

every 2/3 years!

or, if i find that my architecture is not going to be supported anymore......68K & PPC!!! wooo!! :-D

Don't slag that PPC lol. I swear that iBook was the slickest running computer I'll ever own. It was the edge of perfection

Zapp Brannigan

This MAcbook has lasted me 3 and a half years, as soon as they announce the new line of MBP's I'm jumping ship though.

Ham'nd'egger

Every 3 years

I'm my fourth Mac since October 2003 so I'm about one every two years. Fast as a Macintel is, I miss PPC as well, Babypink. Am tempted one day to rescue a G 5 tower if one ever pops up:)

ThenComesDudley

Every 4 years

just upgraded to an imac desktop... as i wanted abigger screen than my macbook has. Got my mac 3 years ago now and will still by using it during travel etc...

Ciaran B

Whenever I can afford a new one

I bought my first Mac (24” iMac) from the refurb store 2 and a half years ago and it’s running as good as when I first got it and I’ve no plans to replace it. I might pick up a Macbook in the Summer. Also eyeing up a new iPod.

babypink

Every 4 years

Hamndegger wrote: »

Fast as a Macintel is, I miss PPC as well, Babypink. Am tempted one day to rescue a G 5 tower if one ever pops up:)

yeah man.... I had a G5 2.5Ghz Dual Processor. Fast, but loud and did it ever run hot!!!! wow!

My Mac history goes like this:

Powerbook Duo 210
Mac LC 475
*long break*
iBook G3
iBook G4
Powerbook G4
Powermac G5
*Hackintosh*
MacBook Pro ..... now my only machine

mobileblog

Every 2 years

I was going to say every two years but i’ve just realised that it’s been nearly one a year since getting my first one.
Picked up a Macbook 13inch about 3years ago and still use it everyday. It’s a great machine. It’s been through a lot including the known problems with the magnetic chipping the edges by the track pad.
Then purchased the 24inch which would be used mainly for my photography and editing videos.
And last week i ordered the mini which will be used as a media center (and should be here over the next few days), along with 4gigs of Ram so i will be updating the the IMac24 and then using that Ram to put into the 13inch so it should give them all a little well needed boost.

Earthhorse

Had my first Mac, an iMac, for a few months now. Don't plan on replacing it for a few years and can't swear I'll replace it with a Mac either. We'll see what's available at the time.

doccy

Earthhorse wrote: »

Had my first Mac, an iMac, for a few months now. Don't plan on replacing it for a few years and can't swear I'll replace it with a Mac either. We'll see what's available at the time.

Oh you say that now lol

Earthhorse

doccy wrote: »

Oh you say that now lol

There were a number of reasons an iMac suited my needs this time, including wondering what all the fuss was about. I've yet to fully get to grips with all that's available and when I do I'll know better whether it suits all my needs.

doccy

Earthhorse wrote: »

There were a number of reasons an iMac suited my needs this time, including wondering what all the fuss was about. I've yet to fully get to grips with all that's available and when I do I'll know better whether it suits all my needs.

I'm only kidding with ye! What I always say about Macs in general though is that Mac will still run as it is now a few years from now. I bought my first iBook at the same time my flatmate bought a windows laptop. At first they ran at the same speed but a year later, his pc was literally running 50 per cent slower. In fairness maybe Windows 7 will rectify this. Maybe.

Elessar

Whenever I can afford a new one

Have my 2.16GHz Core2Duo Macbook Pro now 3 years. I can't really see a justifiable reason to upgrade. The new ones have similar clock speeds, and are not so much faster to warrant the upgrade. The unibody/batteries and screen are nice but enough to warrant an extra €1000? I don't think so.

This machine does everything I need it to do, superbly. I might wait until major spec changes like USB3, or when I just have money to burn!

Before the MBP I had an iBook for a year.

_sparkie_

i bought my first mac (a white macbook) new in summer 2008, it is about a year and a half old now and i dont plan on changing it any time soon. it still seems new to me!

jester77

Usually upgrade based on features, unless the laptop is not running smoothly. My current is one year old, if they added blu-ray, usb 3.0, 720p isight and an lte chip tomorrow, I would upgrade right away.

Bonavox

Every 3 years

Got my first Macbook in March, and a 27" iMac last month. Don't think I'll be needing another Mac anytime soon.

_sparkie_

jester77 wrote: »

Usually upgrade based on features, unless the laptop is not running smoothly. My current is one year old, if they added blu-ray, usb 3.0, 720p isight and an lte chip tomorrow, I would upgrade right away.

now that you mention it, me too. i wish they would put in a blu-ray player, my collection just sits at home beside the ps3.

silvine

What does an ITE chip do?

Gregor Samsa

Every 4 years

I've changed mine every 2-3 years, but things like the move to PPC, and then to Intel chips have generally been the factors that made me upgrade, as opposed to just doing it for the sake of it. My criterion for assessing whether I need an upgrade or not can pretty much be boiled down to: "Will the latest version of Photoshop run smoothly on it".

I was perfectly happy with my year old Unibody 13" Alu MacBook when it was stolen in September (fortunately I had backed it up), so the purchase of my current 13" MacBook Pro was pretty much forced on me (insurance covered it, so it worked out well really ).

My history from 1992 to present:

LC II
Performa 6400
Blue & White G3 (upgraded the processor to a G4, so this one lasted me a long time)
Graphite & White iBook (concurrent with above)
12" PowerBook
Unibody 13" Alu MacBook (tragically stolen)
13" MacBook Pro

I still have them all (except the stolen MacBook), and they all still boot, but the MacBook Pro and PowerBook (now a media center hooked up to my TV) are the only ones in regular use.

thebossanova

When I absolutely have to (software no longer works, etc)

Have an early 2008 15"MBP and the battery is starting to go on me after 304 cycles. Would rather get a new macbook rather than a new battery(€140!!!) but as a poor student I'll have to wait for either. So whenever I can afford to upgrade... :P

faceman

I have my intel iMac about 2 years now. Dont plan on upgrading it anytime soon. I had the prior model (the white one) for a year before upgrading.

Sad Professor

Every 4 years

About every 3-4 years myself. Typing this on a white 17 inch iMac which is about 3 1/2 years old now. Planning to get one of the new ones soon, although I'm of two minds about whether to wait for the next revision. Not sure there's any point. The only really big thing I see coming is blu-ray which I couldn't care less about.