How old is your primary computer?

[quotequeen]

In general I've thought of computers as something to replace every 3 years or so. My current computer (MacBook Pro) is just about 3 years old though and I have no issues with it and no particular desire to get a new one right now. (Well, except the complete lack of battery power now, I've been considering ordering a new battery.)

I'm not sure what you mean by power user, but I use it pretty much all the time that I'm not at work. I am pretty sure I will never go back to being (primarily) a desktop user.

[greeneyedchicka]

Jan 12, 2011 18:14:52 GMT -5 MN-Investor said:

"My company just sent me an IPAD about a week ago but I haven't done much but open the box!"

My brother has an iPad and loves it! I'm not an Apple person, but I have to admit that it's awfully cool.

I'm waiting for a good 7" Android tablet which I can use as an e-book reader.

For those of you looking for a tablet there are two new ones that are worth checking out.

BlackBerry is coming out with the PlayBook. It looks like it is going to be really nice. I am patiently waiting for this one:

us.blackberry.com/

And Dell released their version of a tablet a month or so ago. It is called the Inspiron Duo, which does come with an optional dock:

www.dell.com/content/topics/topic.aspx/global/products/landing/en/inspiron?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&ref=gzilla

I have two laptops and one desktop at home. The two laptops are HPs, and the desktop is an iMac. Loving the iMac and the small HP laptop, but not the larger laptop. It is slow and the fan runs constantly.

I am in IT, so I would consider myself a power user.

The iMac is brand spanking new. One laptop is 2 years old and the other is about a year old.

[Gardening Grandma]

gardeninggrandma: have you looked at the new embroidery software for Macs? I have ConvertIt and the Embrilliance Thumbnailer and really like both. I'll probably spring for the Embrilliance Essentials soon here... then maybe I'll only need to turn windows on every now and again.

Not to hijack the thread, but I had not even realized that embroidery software for Macs even existed. I'll certainly look at both suggestions, although I have $600 invested in Viking's 4D Embroidery Extra. I really like the Viking software, but it seems they have no intention of coming out with a Mac version....

[The J]

Jan 13, 2011 7:43:40 GMT -5 quotequeen said:

In general I've thought of computers as something to replace every 3 years or so. My current computer (MacBook Pro) is just about 3 years old though and I have no issues with it and no particular desire to get a new one right now. (Well, except the complete lack of battery power now, I've been considering ordering a new battery.)

I'm not sure what you mean by power user, but I use it pretty much all the time that I'm not at work. I am pretty sure I will never go back to being (primarily) a desktop user.

Power user is a reference to what you're using the computer for, not the amount of time. Power users generally use resource intensive software -- coding software, graphics intense gaming, video rendering, etc....

You're like me -- a frequent light user.

[reader79]

My current computer at home is a laptop. I have had this one for almost four years, which is way longer than any of my previous computers/laptops. It is a Dell Inspiron running on Windows Vista. I am a light user now, but way back when I used to build my desktops with parts purchased at computer shows, and I used to use my dad's corel software.
I have been contemplating switching to a Macbook Pro for about a year, and I should probably do that before this one dies. Either to sibling abuse like the last three, or a virus.

[quotequeen]

Jan 13, 2011 10:21:28 GMT -5 The J said:

Jan 13, 2011 7:43:40 GMT -5 quotequeen said:

In general I've thought of computers as something to replace every 3 years or so. My current computer (MacBook Pro) is just about 3 years old though and I have no issues with it and no particular desire to get a new one right now. (Well, except the complete lack of battery power now, I've been considering ordering a new battery.)

I'm not sure what you mean by power user, but I use it pretty much all the time that I'm not at work. I am pretty sure I will never go back to being (primarily) a desktop user.

Power user is a reference to what you're using the computer for, not the amount of time. Power users generally use resource intensive software -- coding software, graphics intense gaming, video rendering, etc....

You're like me -- a frequent light user.

Fiiiiiiiiiine.

[TheOtherMe]

# How old is your primary computer? Since I now spend more time on my laptop, a few months

# Is is a desktop, or a laptop? Dell Inspiron laptop

# What is its operating system? Windows XP

# Are you a light user or a power user? too many hours a day, but it's most websurfing

# How often do you replace your computer? When it dies This one replaced a 5 year old Dell laptop that died

I also have a Dell PC that is 2 years old and works great. Just needed a new power supply that was covered under warranty. I do use it for anything that needs printed and to copy CDs and DVDs.

I am another person who won't be going back to a desktop computer.

[kinetickid]

Jan 12, 2011 17:18:02 GMT -5 MN-Investor said:

• How old is your primary computer?
  
• Is is a desktop, or a laptop?
  
• What is its operating system?
  
• Are you a light user or a power user?
  
• How often do you replace your computer?
  

I'm asking this because my primary computer, a desktop running Windows XP Pro, is "celebrating" its 7th birthday this month. I'll probably replace it during 2011.

.

My primary is a MacBook Pro that's about 7 months old. I love this thing.

Hubby's primary is a Dell laptop that's about 2 years old now. He has Windows XP, Windows 7, and Unix on it.

We have a desktop server that Hubby built himself about 3 years ago. It has both Windows 7 and XP on it, too.

We have an older laptop and and older desktop in the closet just taking up space.

Oh, and a RAID hard drive for back-up.

[olderburgher]

My desk top is less than two years old. It runs updated XP. it will be replaced when it breaks not before. I am half way between a light and heavy user.

[stillontheroad]

My computer is about four and a half years old, it's a desktop running XP, and I'm mostly a frequent light user. I got into Microsoft Flight Simulator a couple years ago and my computer is woefully underpowered for it, but I think I'd have to put a lot of money into a system to get one that could run FS as well as I'd like so I try not to think about it.

I replace my computers when they totally die on me. My last one made it only about three years before enough components failed that it basically wasn't worth fixing.

I'm kicking around the idea of a laptop for my next computer, but I'm not sure. The problem with a laptop is that you're paying so much more for less power, not to mention a smaller screen (and I've gotten addicted to the double monitor setup I have at work, so any single screen looks small to me now) and an awful keyboard. When I travel for work I check out laptops from my employer and it's always a pain to use them, IMHO.

[wodehouse]

MN-Investor, you can get a laptop and still use your 24" monitor when you want to.

I have a 3 year old Sony laptop. I like the small machine but I also have huge spreadsheets. I just got a docking station and I'm going to get a 23" widescreen monitor (with widescreen you have to go pretty big in order to get the vertical resolution...which means rows on the spreadsheet).

You can also use an external full size keyboard with number pad with the laptop.

(ha! my 10th post. slow but sure is me.)

[MN-Investor]

"MN-Investor, you can get a laptop and still use your 24" monitor when you want to."

After reading these responses, that's exactly what I'm thinking of doing.

Cost is not really an issue, so I'll probably get a powerful laptop with a large screen and keyboard with numeric keypad. But I would want a docking station so I can see and work on my spreadsheets on a large monitor.

Can I have dual monitors with a docking station? I have a second 20" monitor which I'm not currently using. I used to always use it in the portrait position. I'd have to figure out a different work surface in order to have room, but that would be cool if I could do it.

I'm impatient for USB 3.0 to start making its way into PCs. With all the external hard drives, it just makes sense to wait for 3.0.

[souldoubt]

5 year old desktop now running windows 7. In the last 6 months I've had to replace one of the HD's (the other completely died, couldn't save anything) and more recently the video card. I use it to mostly surf the web and study. When I was younger I used to play games so I'd be more into upgrading my computer but I've got a PS3 that I play maybe 5 times a year now and haven't played a game on the computer in months. I'll keep using this one for hopefully a few more years.

[wodehouse]

MN, I specifically bought a laptop with a small screen (~13") for light weight and portability. I got tired of my heavy old POS Dell with 15" screen.

I believe you can use dual monitors (with independent views) only if your video card supports that function. I think it's unlikely that a laptop would support this. I was actually looking into this just a couple weeks ago.

You can use the external monitor directly with the laptop, you don't have to have a docking station. The docking station/port replicator is just handy because you can leave all that stuff plugged in (monitor, external keyboard, external hard drives, etc) without having to use the ports on the laptop. They also provide additional USB ports. I was constantly switching things in and out of my USB ports.

[tundrated]

3.5 year old iMac. Still runs great and plenty fast. I have upped the memory to 3GB and can once more to 4GB. My next computer purchase will be a Macbook Pro for the family and I will still use the iMac for work in the office. I am hoping to purchase the Macbook later this year.

[Bob Ross]

I built mine in 2002. It's a desktop with XP Pro. I've made some upgrades over the years. Maxed out the RAM, got a newer video card, flat screen monitor, etc. It could use bigger hard drives, but I prefer externals for that. I'd say I'm a power user because I know what I'm doing with it (work in IT). I don't use it for anything intensive, like hardcore gaming. Mostly just internet access. I'll replace it when I need to.

[bobosensei]

We got rid of our desktop 3 or 4 years ago.

DH's laptop, a sony vaio, is 6 years old and desperately needs to be replaced. He took it to Afghanistan with him to watch DVDs and when he gets back we plan to buy him a nice macbook pro air.

My laptop, a dell inspiron, is 2.5 years old. I can't use the keypad anymore, and have to use a wireless mouse. I'm thinking of getting a mac in a few years too.