How long do you guys keep your laptops?

I didn't realize there was such a good crowd dedicated to laptops until I found this forum recently. I seem to get this similar vibe that's around the desktop 'build your own machine' types. And generally speaking, they seem to upgrade quite often.

So I'm wondering. What do the hardcore laptop folks do? Do you guys buy the latest and greatest than sell it for the next item a few months later? Or do you hold on to your purchases for a great length of time?

 

I think you'll find it will vary. Some can't stay put with their laptops, others like me just can't afford to keep upgrading that often. I renew about ever 3-4 years.

 

I buy one generation down and keep it for 2-3 years. The latest are expensive and isn't worth the premium for (what to me anyway) insignificant amount of performance improvement in relation to cost. I just bought a X61 used for 1/3rd the price of it new, in almost new condition with 2 1/2 year warranty remaining so I guess I came out fine. In maybe 2 years time I can finally get a X301 with SSD for a reasonable price then I will. I am not bothered by the latest marketing speak.

 

Prob every 4 years for me. Just replaced a 4 yr old HP dv1000 with a MacBook Pro and LOVE it!!!!

 

I keep mine even after they're dead. My last one I barely had a year before the integrated RAM conked out. My current one is over a year and still going strong.

 

This one probably not long because my X9100 keeps asking for 3.5GHz

 

3-6 months, i upgrade laptops twice a year, loyal follower of intel chip cycles. next upgrade would be the new 35w tdp mobile quad.
current laptop is gateway p7811fx.

 

Normally for me I upgrade about every 3 years. The longer I can stretch it out, the better.

 

Hopefully through 4 years of undergrad

 

I'm pretty random. I generally just set a date/event and purchase accordingly.

This time (with the 6860) i just wanted a powerful gaming rig that i could upgrade and would do what i needed to. But the next scheduled purchase will be Nehelem's mobile quad die shrink. That's the next milestone in laptops, and a pretty big deal IMO. After that I'll pretty much skip sandy bridge then get another laptop on the next chip sets die shrink. So i guess i kinda buy on Intel's tock (in their tick tock release schedule)

Until then I'll stick with my 6860.

 

Every other week since I don'w have time every weekend. I buy and sell computers. I get to see all kinds of computers but the bad side is I never have one for my self.

 

this is my first laptop, and i plan on keeping it as long as i can.

 

I keep mine for about 12-18 months. I like to buy them when I can get them for a good price (usually at least several hundred under normal price). Reselling it 12-18 months later means that it still has most of its value so I can resell it for a pretty good amount and cover most of the cost of getting a new laptop.

 

I will probably start feeling like this laptop is out of date in about 2 years. I will start hunting for deals at that point and watching technology evolve. When I see a feature set/price point that works for me I will upgrade (usually takes like 6 months of research) and then I will pass then laptop to a random family member.

So in the end I expect to have this for 2.5-3 years.

 

That's what I've done the past 2-3 years. Buy a laptop on sale or something for like $500-600, then after 1 year give or take, after I've maybe added some RAM, etc to it, then try to resell it for only a $100 loss. Then use that money on a new $600 or so laptop.

That's kinda expensive though over the long haul lol, so I finally got a laptop that I'm satisfied w/ power-wise (never had dedicated graphics before, only integrated). Sure I'd love something top of the line that was a power machine, or super chic looking like a macbook, but I think it takes a wake up call to begin to chill w/ compulsive electronics purchases, and learn to be happy with what you have and what's within your means. Electronics junkies have difficulty w/ that sometimes

 

My company updates us every two to three years.

We've been using the TP R40 for almost 6 years. It isn't being retired by the P-7811FX, but it's role in life will change. It is still perfectly adequate for email, web browsing, watching DVDs, the kid's educational games, MAME, No One Lives Forever, Oddworld and all the stuff we do now that we were doing last year and the year before.

The P 7811FX is a couple orders of magnitude faster the the TP R40. I'm pretty sure it's faster than my current homebuilt. And I expect as long as it keeps working, we'll keep using it, maybe another six years or more (of course, I can upgrade the processor... that will help some).

 

I usually switch out every year or so.

 

It really depends though, because I purchased one in two or three months of time. I purchased three laptops last time to this month, and I am thinking of getting the next one. However, I keep reselling the laptops to my friends or on eBay.

 

Well I guess I should answer my own question. Although it's still too early to say for sure, I'd say I hold on for a longer period of time. I say too early because I've only been a laptop user for the last 2 years and I'm on my second. However, I'm going from a Macbook to Gateway so my change was more to do with software than hardware.

I'd like to keep this for at least 3 years.

 

I get a new computer when the old computer can not do something that i suddenly need it to do, well.

 

With the exception of this year, I usually keep mine for good 3-4 years.

 

MAME for the win!!!