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Mega ST

macrumors 6502
Feb 11, 2021
368
510
Europe
I am typing this on my 2018 intel MBP. Still running nicely and not slow in any way. Only the battery should be replaced some day.
I was in the market for some M3max but delayed waiting for the M4. Will now opt for some refurbished M3max or go M4 for new software that needs apple silicon.
 
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Mac Hammer Fan

macrumors 65816
Jul 13, 2004
1,330
498
These are the Macs I had since 1992
Performa 400, Performa 600 CD, SE30, Centris 650, Quadra 840 AV, PowerMac 6100, PowerMac 7100, PowerMac 8100,
PowerMac 7300, PowerMac 7600, PowerMac G3 266, PowerMac G3 Tower 333 Mhz, B&W G3 350 Tower, iMac G3 350 Mhz, eMac G4 1.4 Ghz, PowerMac G5 Dual 1.8 GHz, Macbook Dual 2.2 Ghz, PowerMac G5 Dual 2.3 Ghz, 2x Mac Pro 2009, MacBook Pro 2015 15", Mac Studio M1, MacBook Pro M2 16"
I still have PowerMac G3 Tower with G4 533 Mz for OS9 after 26 years. I still use (not very often) a MacBook DC 2.2 Ghz from 2007, that's now 17 years. I still use my 2 Mac Pro's 2009 maxed out with upgrades after 15 years. Some Macs I had only for six months.
 
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familychoice

macrumors 6502
Mar 5, 2015
295
169
I’m still using the last Intel MBP. It runs everything I need ok, the screen and speakers are fantastic, but it does heat up a bit and battery doesn’t last long, so I’m eyeing up a new 14”M4.

Interestingly I ran a test with Ableton Live, and discovered CPU-wise it’s not straining as much as I thought it would compared to my M1 Mini. And if I start using AI on the Mini, the performance might not be that much different.

Still fancy a new M4 though….
 

WC7

macrumors 6502
Dec 13, 2018
430
322
Yes, I still have my 2018 Mac mini (base model) ... however I 'converted' to a M chip iMac when I was still working. Since then I have enjoyed the iMac so much that I am staying on the 'arithmetic M series' ... and will likely get the new M4 iMac version. I want to see the potential of the AI before I 'will' my 'old' iMac to my grandson ... although I am sure he'd rather have a laptop or iPhone! Ha!
 
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WC7

macrumors 6502
Dec 13, 2018
430
322
Ordered the Mac mini instead of the iMac. May still order an iMac but was super enthused by the Mac mini.
 

mrnoark

macrumors newbie
May 30, 2014
20
22
Malaysia
2011: Macbook Pro 13 (last disc drive)
2018: Macbook Air 13 (last butterfly)
2022: Macbook Air 13 (last 5nm chip)
Edit: 2022: Macbook Air 13 (last 8GB RAM as base)

Now, I'm thinking of getting 2024 MacBook Pro M4 Pro. In hindsight, both MacBook Air was a bad purchase for me.
 

green_anthony

macrumors newbie
Oct 30, 2024
7
7
The answer for me apparently is 5 years.
I've been programming on a 2019 i9 MBP 16 GB for 5 years, and as I have recently moved onto SwiftUI programming, Xcode has been just such a pain to work with that Apple is forcing my hand to move on to the M platform.

I think it's a shame that a machine that used to cost 3-4 grand 5 years ago is now unable to reliably perform non-intensive programming tasks. We ought to make software more efficient regardless of hardware advancements...

Although I'm complaining I'm quite excited getting aboard the M platform.
 

RRF985

macrumors member
Mar 14, 2013
70
58
I'm on a 2019 i9 32GB. I kept my previous system 7 years (27" iMac) but now at 4.5 years with my current machine i'm ready to move over to the M systems. I will probably be preordering an M4 Max this evening although i'm still undecided on size.
 

green_anthony

macrumors newbie
Oct 30, 2024
7
7
I'm on a 2019 i9 32GB. I kept my previous system 7 years (27" iMac) but now at 4.5 years with my current machine i'm ready to move over to the M systems. I will probably be preordering an M4 Max this evening although i'm still undecided on size.
16" will be better for you if decide on a M4 Max apparently because of heavy fan noise on the 14" (the chassis can't dissipate the heat fast enough/RPM is higher). At least that was the case for the M3 Max.

Doesn't seem to trigger any significant thermal throttling but beware if you decide on a 14" M4 Max

Edit: I must specify that it's only under heavy loads, obviously.
 
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RRF985

macrumors member
Mar 14, 2013
70
58
16" will be better for you if decide on a M4 Max apparently because of heavy fan noise on the 14" (the chassis can't dissipate the heat fast enough/RPM is higher). At least that was the case for the M3 Max.

Doesn't seem to trigger any significant thermal throttling but beware if you decide on a 14" M4 Max

Well dang. That's good to know. Thanks!
 

zarathu

macrumors 6502a
May 14, 2003
652
362
It used to be when the income tax programs no longer worked, which was about 4-5 years. But with the advent of photo apps using AI, its down to about 3 years for me.
 

msackey

macrumors 68030
Oct 8, 2020
2,868
3,297
I have a 2017 MacBook Pro and don't intend to upgrade it for the next at least 3 to 4 years (or longer). It works very well for what I need it to do. The only thing is that since it cannot use macOS beyond Ventura, it is currently 2 macOS generations behind which means certain features it doesn't have that my other more updated hardware have. For example, it can't show Reminders in Calendar but my Watch, iPhone, and iPad can. But these aren't a big issue. It would be awesome if this MBP is still my Mac 10 years from purchase. That would make it the longest period I've used the same Mac. Actually, it currently has that record already, I think.

What has surprised me though is how much I am now salivating over an iPad Pro 11 inch M4, primarily because of the nano-texture screen, and secondarily being able to use the Apple Pencil Pro. My current iPad Pro still works fine otherwise.
 

UbiCrea

macrumors member
Nov 25, 2022
74
19
My MBP M3 Max didnt last so long... sold it because autonomy was not so good. Bought back a MBP M2 Pro 12/19 CPU/GPU, i love it in silver.
Sold my MBA M2 as well.
And I sold my iMac Pro 10C 128Gb and wait for a Studio M4 Max.
---
So I currently has only my MPB M2 Pro connected to a Studio Display. It does the job :)
I did some nice saving as I sold all the three a bit higher than I bought them before.
 

tekksan

macrumors 6502
Mar 27, 2009
282
142
I usually wait 2-3 years to upgrade but this year, I'm selling my M3 Pro Space Black and getting the M4 Pro Silver. The performance jump from M3 Pro to M4 Pro seems much bigger than the normal iteration performance improvements and after having Space Black for a year, I really don't like how it shows smudges/wear and tear more than my old M1 Silver did. I also appreciate the significant battery improvement from M3 Pro->M4 Pro. I have an AppleCard so I just do monthly installments with 0% for a year. I'll likely keep the M4 Pro until the first or second iteration of a design refresh so like 2-3 years.
 
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cool11

macrumors 68000
Sep 3, 2006
1,823
223
I keep my macbook pro, about 8 years.
I have 2021 16' mbp, bought it in 2022, I intend to keep it til 2030!

My previous mbp, 2014 model, 10 years later, in 2024, is still in use!

I give a small fortune to obtain a rather higher spec mbp,
it is a matter of how much salaries you give to purchase one,
so it is like an investment for me, that need many years to go to full depreciation.
 
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nutriousmitten

macrumors 6502
Feb 7, 2017
299
380
Don't own a Mac yet, but splurged back in 2017 for a 9.7IPP and though it's time for a replacement, it's outlasted 2 of my wife's iPad Airs.
So, I don't mind paying for something that will last a bit longer but of course laptops are a different breed. 4-5 year for any PC or laptop I've had and things start to crawl. Mac may be different, it may not with how AI and other things are coming down the software pipe they will take system resources that today's machines aren't built for/around.

Was close to pulling a trigger on an M3 Pro earlier this year, simply for the 18GB ram, extra port, and color over the base Pro. I'd rather have more RAM then less for future proof in general, too, and 8 wasn't enough in the base M3.

Glad I didn't, now it's the question of an improved base M4 vs the M4 Pro. Only tangible difference for me is the 16 vs 24 RAM (I know there are more cores) but $500+ here in Canada to go to the M4 Pro, doesn't seem worth it, again, because will 24GB of RAM get me through an additional year or two down the road in 3-5 years? Maybe, maybe not, as maybe the additional RAM won't be the issue on the need upgrade in 4 years?

So, save the $500, get a base M4, and theoretically use the funds I don't spend today to upgrade sooner in 2028.

Tldr, in 3-5 years, gazing into your crystal ball, is it going to be system RAM or processing power that will likely be the deciding factor to upgrade to the M8 (for example) processor from M4? Oled screen will be out then too come into play too, the OLED screen was the main reason I've held out on the IPP upgrade until now too.
 
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LogicalApex

macrumors 65816
Nov 13, 2015
1,460
2,316
PA, USA
These machines are too expensive to upgrade frequently.

I'm replacing my 2018 MBP with the 2024 MBP so 6 years. That's a good run considering the adds from Apple Silicon. My Wife has the M1 and there are no plans to replace it soon. It was purchased as an alternative to the M1 iPP at the time and has proven to be a much better buy (got her the iPad mini + M1 MBP for about the same price as the 12.9" IPP at the time).
 

drolson

macrumors member
Sep 17, 2015
58
23
WI
Still using a 2008, 2009, 2010, 2017, 2018 and my latest a 2020, For me they all work absolutely great with the Mac Pros running the latest macOS Sequoia 15.0, And I don't care what kind of Silicon they have
 
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