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OctoMan
Joined: Aug 22 2005
Posts: 328
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How long do you normally own a laptop before ditching it?
It's not like me to make an impulse buy, especially if it's expensive, but I am so frustrated. About a year ago, I bought some new RAM for my laptop, and it caused no end of BSODs, so I took it out. A couple of days ago, I tried again, with more new RAM - and again, I've got much better performance, but I'm also getting random BSODs.
I'm gonna think on it awhile, but I'm sorely tempted - my school has got great deals for less than a thousand bucks.
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Adrenaline
Title: Local Canadian!
Joined: Jun 18 2007
Location: Nova Scotia, Canadiana
Posts: 365
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Mine worked for almsot 2 years and I deci.. IT decided to not turn on one day, found out it was the motherboard..
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OctoMan
Joined: Aug 22 2005
Posts: 328
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That sux, dude. 
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Char Aznable
Title: Char Classic™
Joined: Jul 24 2006
Location: Robot Boombox HQ
Posts: 7542
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It's time to get a new computer when your old one is either malfunctioning beyond repair or no longer has the specs you need to do the shit you want to do.
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Burt Reynolds
Title: Bentley Bear
Joined: Apr 07 2008
Location: California
Posts: 1399
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| Char Aznable wrote: |
| It's time to get a new computer when your old one is either malfunctioning beyond repair or no longer has the specs you need to do the shit you want to do. |
Quite true. I think a laptop needs to be replaced less frequently than a desktop because they are not typically viable machines for gaming or any video/ram intensive programs like cad, photoshop etc because of hardware limitations such as less powerful video cards, slower hard drives and generally slower, more power efficient processors. Generally because of this they are used for schoolwork, browsing the internet, etc, in which case most laptops far exceed the minimum requirements for these types of applications.
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Tyop
Title: Grammar Nazi
Joined: May 04 2008
Location: Sauerkrautland
Posts: 1414
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I just replaced the broken hard drive in my four year old laptop with the hard drive of an even older laptop, because it's not really worth buying a new HD at this point. The DVD drive hasn't been working properly for two years, the keys on the keyboard keep coming off and it's got so many bumps and bruises it's a matter of time until it starts to just fall apart. Next laptop I buy will definitely be an Eee PC or some other light-weight Linux notebook with a solid-state drive.
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Lottel
Title: of the Eternal BWOG
Joined: Sep 02 2008
Posts: 1123
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I got a virus in my old lappy. So I weighed my options. Spend the money to get a antivirus software thingy to fix it (which is cheap I know) and get a buddy to go over it to make sure it's fine and blah blah blah... OR I could turn it in for insurance.
So I smacked in on the concrete floor several times until it wouldn't shut and the screen was shattered. Free $1600 laptop for me.
And the best part is, I got to keep my old laptop. So all I have to do it hook it up to an old crappy monitor and then it'll work (except for the viruses.)
I'll get a new one prolly in 2 years or so.
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OctoMan
Joined: Aug 22 2005
Posts: 328
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| Char Aznable wrote: |
| It's time to get a new computer when your old one is either malfunctioning beyond repair or no longer has the specs you need to do the shit you want to do. |
Yeah. I've managed to control my impulsive desire to buy a new lappy, so I don't think I will get one. I'm still mildly annoyed, though. What is wrong with my freakin' computer that it won't accept new RAM?
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Char Aznable
Title: Char Classic™
Joined: Jul 24 2006
Location: Robot Boombox HQ
Posts: 7542
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Have you tried updating the BIOS?
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mtgrnwdstar
Title: The guy from Chicago
Joined: Jun 21 2008
Location: Chicago/DeKalb, IL
Posts: 157
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My dad let me use his laptop for about 2 years, and it was probably the slowest machine I've ever had the displeasure of using. Then again, this laptop was state-of-the-art in 2002, and I didn't obtain the laptop until August of 2005, so I was pretty much dead in the water for playing games and whatnot.
So last year I ended up buying a desktop rig, piece by piece, for about a combined total of $1,000 last year and had my buddy assemble it. I love it...it can play damn near anything.
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OctoMan
Joined: Aug 22 2005
Posts: 328
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| Char Aznable wrote: |
| Have you tried updating the BIOS? |
Yes, I have, and I can't, because no update even exists, anywhere on the internet. Stupid Gateway. Dell next time!
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GPFontaine
Joined: Dec 06 2007
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 11244
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A computer that was purchased with current equipment should remain almost 100% functional for about 3 years. After that the industry will be far enough ahead that new hardware will most likely be needed to keep up.
This doesn't mean that the computer will lose its abilities, it just means that new stuff won't work well.
Most people tend to stretch the time to 4-5 years if the hardware allows for it.
There has been a minor stumbling block over the last few years though. The world in general has not accepted Windows Vista as a suitable replacement for Windows XP. Until that happens, older hardware will remain useful. One other thing holding back the industry right now is the lack of multithreaded applications. But this will change quickly now that most new processors are dual or quad core based.
My thought is that in one year computers will have a major jump forwards that they haven't taken in quite a long time. Anyone with a dual core processor will be fine, others will want to upgrade.
Also, many laptops using the ultra low voltage processors will go out of date extremely quickly due to insufficient processing power. The Dell XT tablet for example can't keep up.
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zelda_god
Joined: Aug 20 2008
Posts: 94
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