Lifespan of a modern computer?

[LCGuy]

So I was talking to someone yesterday about how long a modern computer should last. Personally I like to get at least 5 or 6 years of useful life out of a computer before I have to replace it to continue to run modern software. I expect the hardware to run for at least 6 - 8 years from new before I have to write the machine off. However, a lot of people tell me that they think that a computer should only last 2 - 4 years before you have to get a new one...some of my customers are outright surprised when I don't try and recommend that they upgrade their Northwood P4 that still works fine and does what they want it to do, because "its old and they should buy a new one". Likewise, I've had a lot of customers write their machines off around the 3 - 5 year mark due to hardware failure. Personally, if I only get 3 - 5 years out of a computer from new, I consider it to be a lemon. I'd just be interested to hear your opinions on this.

[matthewk]

Well the main family PC has been used for 7 years. With just an upgrade on HDD and GPU. It doesn't play modern games but it still surfs the net, plays solitaire, can still play Diablo 2 and run Word documents. Which is all it does for 99% of the time.

[decryption]

If a computer still does what you want it to do, then keep on truckin' brother. When it can't do stuff you want it to do, buy a new one that will! As simple as that.

[MrBlonde]

I agree, I'm using the G4 Quicksilver I bought in June 2002.

[dolbinau]

Well I think this depends on what task you want to achieve, I mean, for some users they could probably use iMac DVs today happily for very light e-mail usage and rare browsing.

For others they may may be upgrading to i7s and new GPUs just so they can run the latest games on the very max settings that their 1 year old computer can't.

[stevejay]

A well looked after computer should easily give you 5 years primary use. I got 9 years out of a 12 month old 6100/66av (total 10 years) and it was clock-chipped and ran very hot. My G4 iBook is still running a treat, and apart from the kids' whinges about the 80GB disk being chocks, the ex's eMac ticks along happily and they're 5 and (nearly) 6 years old respectively.

Of course, the laws of thermodynamics come into play, and if you're not computer savvy, then salary sacrificing a new 'puter each year is probably peace of mind. (Not good for the planet, though )

[MissionMan]

If you use it for business, you can justify replacing it every 3 years. We pay our consultants an allowance to replace a laptop every 3 years, because with ongoing abuse from day to day workings mean that the average laptop will last about 3 years unless you really make an effort to take care of it. With technology changes, maintaining acceptable performance is also difficult after 3 years.

[LCGuy]

I think just about all of you apart form stevejay missed my point...I'm not talking about how long you should be able to use it as your primary machine, I'm actually talking about how long the hardware should last before it dies.

[decryption]

Originally Posted by LCGuy

I think just about all of you apart form stevejay missed my point...I'm not talking about how long you should be able to use it as your primary machine, I'm actually talking about how long the hardware should last before it dies.

If that's the case, then simply whatever the warranty is. If the machines dies outside of the warranty, then too bad - if the manufacturer doesn't believe it will last longer than 12 months or whatever, you're lucky if it does last longer.

[Phase]

Originally Posted by LCGuy

Personally, if I only get 3 - 5 years out of a computer from new, I consider it to be a lemon. I'd just be interested to hear your opinions on this.

Totally subjective on what the computer is used for;

I replace my machines every 12 months, my last notebook lasted 9 months before being sold on.

The one exception is my early 08 Mac Pro. It's almost a year, but I have no plans of moving it on (probably because it is still so monstrously powerful). I will however be taking it to 12Gb RAM from the current 8, and upgrading to the new NVIDIA card when it becomes available with the 09 Mac Pro. (Currently using the 8800GT).

I understand why people would keep their old machines, but to me, it is anathema.

[leon]

To be honest, I expect something that I have treated with respect to last forever.
My Macbook is currently being repaired for the lid closing causing case crack. Whilst it is there, the inverter is being replaced because its causing the backlight to flicker and its making a buzzing noise. This laptop is 2.5 years old and has been babied all its life.
To me I find that 2.5 years is too short for this machine to be having problems.

I'm currently using a 20" iMac G4 as my workhorse until I get my laptop back. This machine is pretty rock solid for its age (only issue being an LCD persistent image problem). I expect my machines to last 5 years before potentially requiring a replacement HDD or something like that. I expect the screens/logicboards to run for 20 years at least.

I'm finding that my older machines are still running beautifully. Its the newer Intel ones which seem to be the flakiest (Rev. A Macbook, iMac C2E 2.8GHz).

[chrism238]

Originally Posted by LCGuy

.... I'm actually talking about how long the hardware should last before it dies.

I wonder if, in 2109, we'll see long-lived computer stories, akin to this one!

[Lutze]

My Cube (2001) still runs perfectly well - and with the tips I got I hope to run Leopard Server soon!

[Goodbye]

I still use my iBook G4 every day (only for streaming internet radio to my stereo at night), but it hasn't been restarted for months. It was bought back in 02 or 03, so 6 or 7 years is pretty good for a rev A machine that heaps of people seemed to have trouble with!

[gehenna]

I hope that any computer I have stays relevant for two years at least, but I don't expect it to perform with contemporary applications past 4 years. I've seen computers last from 2 years to 12 years in terms of hardware life. In fact most of the computers I support at work are coming up on 9 years old right now. Even my mainframe is circa 1994.

So it depends on what your expectations are: Do you want it to last for 6-7 years but still run new software each year, or do you want it to last for 6-7 years without physically dying. I think the latter is reasonable but not the former.

[Wally]

Not all people get it, just because something is old doesn't mean its no good.

I reckon 5 - 10 years should average out the lifespan of a modern computer (if its a PC, its gotta have non generic ram, a decent HDD and a $300 power supply).

Then again, Mac Classics can still be used in today's environment. Still pretty portable, just because it doesn't run the latest software and surf the net doesn't mean it cant do word processing, be a cash register or homework on it (Disable the floppy drive and you cant even put software on it without opening it so its a very distraction free environment for students (I wish I thought of this earlier). You could always take it home every night to do the money count ( I'd get a Mac classic going in my shop if I had one.. Hmm maybe I should set one up for my accounting stuff :P)

[kevinnugent]

I'm with Phase on this one. Life's too short to not have a new computer every year. And the ATO virtually encourage it.

[MissionMan]

There is a big difference between how long you can make something work for and what's considered an acceptable life span. I'm willing to bet there are some old XT's around but why would you use it if there are machines which are faster and better. Sure it may save you replacement value, but you lose in performance and the cost difference will make a huge difference in time saved.

For anything business, you can replace every 2-3 years. If you salary sacrifice a laptop which is used for business, you can replace it every year at no additional cost to yourself (i.e. the second hand value of the laptop will be the same as the new value of a new laptop after salary sacrifice takes place) so why wouldn't you. Some of my consultants don't even believe me that this is possible, but if you do the sums, you'll see its true.

[krolly]

Doing artwork, I'd find that jobs got bigger and bigger and a computer that could cope just fine one year, would be ponderously slow a year later.

[bennettnz]

For my business I expect a working life of 4 years with the fourth year being the year I think about replacing it, after that I expect 1 to 2 years of soft labour, email, itunes server, nothing strenuous. If I can have a machine in top condition for 4 years churning out work every day then I know it has paid for itself easily. So you can easily have a perfectly useable for machine for 6 years but inevitably software requirements outpace the hardware and an upgrade is necessary. Now I'm only talking about macs as I have no experience of PCs.