How long will a Laptop survive?

[Czernobog]

My Toshiba laptop was bought early 2006 and still works fine. I don't really use it for much besides word processing nowadays but I expect it could continue to work for years if I keep it well ventilated on the bottom when I use it.

[isiolia]

Macs do not make it easy for their stuff to be user replaced.



The last part. "The best part about a Mac is upgrades, its so easy. With a PC you have to open it up, and change video cards and jumpers, with a Mac you just throw it away and buy a new one!"

Depends on the model Mac. They tend to be just as upgradeable as comparable PCs (you aren't likely ugprading the video card on an all-in-one PC either). More recent Macbooks/Pros are pretty simple to upgrade RAM and HDD on. They usually make it very simple to access things they consider to be user upgradeable. It's the things that aren't that are a pain.

For SSDs, TRIM support is there - it was put in late, but you can enable it on Snow Leopard, or it's in Lion by default.

Laptops are more cost prohibitive, if nothing else, to fix in the long run. They also tend to get subject to more abuse, and have more parts that are integrated (battery, LCD, etc). I used my Powerbook G4 400 from 2001 to 2007, when I got a Macbook. It doesn't turn on now, but that could be the AC adapter. The Pentium laptop my mom bought in Akihabara still works. Meanwhile I've got laptops in my office that were destroyed in under a year.

Unless your luck is bad, quite a lot has to do with how you treat it.

[D.D.D.]

My Toshiba laptop was bought early 2006 and still works fine. I don't really use it for much besides word processing nowadays but I expect it could continue to work for years if I keep it well ventilated on the bottom when I use it.

In my experience, most people I know who own Toshiba laptops have only replaced them because they want something newer and more powerful, not because they broke.
Kinda impressive especially how cheap you can get them compared to legendary IBM laptops (I am specifically referring to IBM, I have no clue about them since they were sold to Lenovo).

[ZenErik]

Laptops can last a week. Laptops can last over 10 years. YMMV. Certain models have known issues. Unfortunately, a lot of times the issues aren't known until a few months or even a few years later. Defective GPUs are a common issue I see at the shop I work at.

[RCBH928]

i will only upgrade ram and hard drive

How can i make my cpu and gpu stay cool?

[AznKhmerBoi]

1- keep fans clean of dust and dirt
2- reapply thermal paste/pad to cpu/gpu
3- try not to block any air vents as much as possible.

A more drastic route would be to undervolt the machine
Guide to undervolting ---> http://forum.notebookreview.com/hardwar ... guide.html

i will only upgrade ram and hard drive

How can i make my cpu and gpu stay cool?

[Duane Dibbley]

My iBook will be 10 years old in December. I had to send it in to AppleCare to get the logic board replaced early on, and the Airport card needed to be replaced a few years ago, but otherwise, it still works great. My wife's 5 year old MacBook is still working quite well. If you take care of it, your MacBook can last a long time. Plus, Macs have great resale value, so if you decide to get a new computer in a few years, you can make a bit back selling your old MacBook.

[RCBH928]

i am not sure what does "good care" means
but i keep it by my bed and use it, otherwise I do not take out any where.
its connected to electricity 24/7

[ZenErik]

Connected to the AC adapter 24/7? That's a good way to kill the battery.

[Hobie-wan]

i am not sure what does "good care" means
but i keep it by my bed and use it, otherwise I do not take out any where.
its connected to electricity 24/7

Avoid using it on the bed where the blanket will block the cooling fan and give it a source to suck in dust and get hot.