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How long do you keep your Mac?

How long do you keep your Mac?

  • 2-3 years

    Votes: 18 11.9%

  • 4-5 years

    Votes: 39 25.8%

  • 6-7 years

    Votes: 37 24.5%

  • 8-9 years

    Votes: 27 17.9%

  • 10+ years

    Votes: 29 19.2%

  • I don't have a Mac.

    Votes: 1 0.7%
  • Total voters
    151
padams35 said:
My current desktop is a mid-tier 2011 21" iMac with self upgraded ram, SSD, and now an eGPU. Without the SSD/eGPU I'd have had to replace it after 5 years for gaming. With and I expect ~7 years.
Click to expand...

eGPU will drive the internal screen on the mid-2011 iMac?
 
My early 2008 Mac Pro was my first Mac. It's still chugging along as my primary photo and video editor (except 4k), but it's waiting to be replaced by the modular Mac Pro or, if I can't help myself, the iMac Pro. However, I replaced my mid 2009 MacBook Pro 17" last December with the 15" MacBook Pro with Touchbar, as I needed something to edit 4k video.
 
vkd said:
eGPU will drive the internal screen on the mid-2011 iMac?
Click to expand...
Not sure, but my guess is 'no'. In macOS application level acceleration can certainly be handled by an eGPU permitting apps displayed on the internal to be eGPU accelerated* but I suspect the final screen layout and internal screen driving is done by the dGPU.

*The frame rate penalty for looping back to the internal via TB1 can be significant. I do my eGPU gaming on an external monitor and use headphones to prevent an audio/video disconnect.
 
Mid 2009 iMac core 2 duo still going strong. I did put an sshd in it, and upped the ram to 8gb. It's no longer my main system as I've upgraded to a Late 2015 5k iMac.
 
'til something goes fatally wrong with it.

I still own my Titanium and Aluminium PowerBook G4's (but they don't get used that often - Software compatibility issues because of the Intel swap)

I've had PowerMac G4, PowerMac G5, iMac G5, MacBook Pro (2010), all went to the bin after logic board failures. Well, I still own the MBP but... yeah, it's dead as a doornail.

Except a single Mac Mini (2012) that I sold in 2014 as I also had my current laptop, hence didn't use it as much as I wanted to.

My current laptop (2012) is still in service and will be until it breaks. After it does I don't know what i'll upgrade to, none of the current Apple laptop offerings suit me. Maybe a second hand trash can, or another hackintosh laptop. Maybe I'll weigh up the repair costs of it and the MPB - Set up all of my workflows on a server sitting under the house and use the MBP as a "dumb terminal" kind of deal.
 
Have a 2012 MacBook Air, still kicking after logic board replacement and 1tb SSD Aura upgrade. I use it as a portable mirror of my 2017 iMac 27".
 
FWIW, the two Macs that I have in my classroom that handle all of my daily productivity, less planning, grading, and presentations are both 2008 iMacs. The one on my main desk in the classroom is a 2.8GHz 24", and the one in my office is a 2.4GHz 20".
 
On average, about 3 years. Although that's sped up for me recently as things like 4K are getting more prevalent/demanded from clients.

Started with:
2009: late 08 refurb 15" MBP, then upgraded to SSD and 6GB RAM
2012: sold that one and got a mid-2012 15" MBP with antiglare, quad core i7, 16GB RAM and SSD
2014: that one died an untimely death (water spilled), so sold and got a refurb late 2013 rMBP maxed out as a holdover
2015: sold that and got a 2013 6-core/D500 mac pro
2016: refurb 2015 13" rMBP base model as a complement to the desktop (travel, meetings, etc)
2017: sold mac pro and went to 2017 5K iMac maxed out. Still have the rMBP and will upgrade once coffee lake brings quad cores to the 13" line next year. Wanted to wait for iMac Pro but it's out of my budget + I don't really need all that power.
 
I'm using a quad core late 2008 model Mac Pro that I purchased new in 2008. No issues except my graphics card had to be replaced but that's not a piece of Apple hardware. It's October 9, 2017 now and my Mac is no longer supported by the latest OS so despite being happy with the performance of my Mac Pro I guess I'll have to replace it soon. I'm waiting out for the new Mac Pro since I'm happy with the one I purchased 9 years ago :)
 
Average has been 8-10 years. I just replaced a mid 2007 2.8Ghz 24" iMac with a maxed out 27" a month ago. The 24" is still running fine, but I figured it was time, lol. Ya, the new one is just a wee bit faster..... :)
 
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nickditoro said:
My early 2008 Mac Pro was my first Mac. It's still chugging along as my primary photo and video editor (except 4k), but it's waiting to be replaced by the modular Mac Pro or, if I can't help myself, the iMac Pro. However, I replaced my mid 2009 MacBook Pro 17" last December with the 15" MacBook Pro with Touchbar, as I needed something to edit 4k video.
Click to expand...

I have the same though now retired to the basement vault. Those “Cheese Graters” were built like tanks. At the time they were an engineering work of art. I hope Apple brings a new mini tower in 2018. Prolly Q4 2018 if at all. :apple:
 
I use them until they die or there is a new feature in the OS that I want which I can’t run on my current Mac.

I have a 2012 MBA, and a 2013 iMac. They are starting to slow down and have issues, but I bet I have at least a year out of each of them.
 
I tend to upgrade computers every 4-5 years, depending on what sorts of upgrades or benefits are involved. Right now, I'm pretty intrigued by the rumored redesign of the iMac line next year and might consider giving that a purchase.
 
5-6 years.

I feel the Mac offers enough upgrades at that point to make the expense worthwhile.
 
For years I used to get a new Mac every year. One year replacing my laptop, the next my desktop. However times have changed and the improvements from generation to generation and some Apple design decisions just didn't warrant the 2 year cycle anymore for me.

So I currently have a 2009 Mac Pro (that I bought used and greatly upgraded from stock - it replaced a 2012 i7 Mac mini back in 2013), an early 2015 13" MBP (replaced a 2011 13" MBP) and added a iMac to the mix (downstairs/kitchen computer) which is a Late 2012 21.5". From time to time I'm tempted to update the iMac with a 4k Retina version, but haven't been able to justify it. Haven't replaced my Mac Pro because was not happy with the cylinder version and don't plan on replacing my MBP anytime soon as I'm not happy with the loss of ports and don't want to live the dongle life.
 
My old 2008 Mac Pro lasted until last year, so 8 years is my personal record. I'd prefer upgrading every 3-4 years, but I can't justify that expenditure.

[I'd also add that the 2008 Mac Pro was hands-down the best Mac computer I've ever owned for reliability and durability and internal expandability. I never went for the trash-can pro because I kept comparing the new dongle-fest to the sturdiness and ease of upgrading the old one.]
 
MjWoNeR said:
I got mine as soon the slim models got released. 27" Late '12.
My very first Mac really, and coming from building PCs I maxed it for future proofing.
3.4GHz i7
GeForce GTX 680MX 2GB
3TB Fusion drive
And upgraded the RAM to 32gigs of Corsair memory.

It's been holding out well, considering I had to use the guarantee twice. Once for a failing hard drive and once for screen smudges, but it is turned on 24/7, year round, as my PCs were. Other than that it's solid.

Since it's still quite fast for day to day use, I'm thinking of keeping it at least as long as Apple supports it with newer OSes. The day a new MacOS is not compatible, I'll start considering a new machine.

How about you?
Click to expand...

Same here. I have a 2011. Still runs fine. Waiting till no more support for upgrades. If this had been my typical HP computer I used to buy would have replaced 2 by now.
 
I bought a late 2009 iMac in early 2010. The upgrade to MacOS Sierra actually seemed to improve the speed of the computer a lot compared to previous operating systems. Given the fact it has a spinning drive, I'm glad I got 7.5 years out of it.

But I got the itch for internal SSD and USB3/Thunderbolt. So I bought a mid-2017 iMac with the internal SSD and I have an external SSD hooked up through USB3. It's an awesome computer and the blazing fast USB/TB connections should help future-proof this machine for many years.
 
redfirebird08 said:
I bought a late 2009 iMac in early 2010. The upgrade to MacOS Sierra actually seemed to improve the speed of the computer a lot compared to previous operating systems. Given the fact it has a spinning drive, I'm glad I got 7.5 years out of it.

But I got the itch for internal SSD and USB3/Thunderbolt. So I bought a mid-2017 iMac with the internal SSD and I have an external SSD hooked up through USB3. It's an awesome computer and the blazing fast USB/TB connections should help future-proof this machine for many years.
Click to expand...
You can use the 2009 as a monitor for your 2017 if you care. I'm using my 2010 like this.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/dual-imacs.2052555/#post-24790730
 
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