Who here waits 7+ years before buying a new Mac? The M1 Mac Mini is my first Mac purchase since 2013.

[macintologist]

1998 - iMac bondi blue
2002 - iMac G4
2006 intel imac
2013 - retina MacBook pro
2021 - M1 Mac mini

That is how infrequently I buy a new Mac because of how long they last and how durable they are. I went from a 2013 rMBP running Mojave straight to an M1 Mac mini running Monterrey.

Is anyone else in this situation? I think the M1 processor is a phenomenal leap forward.

 

[lclev]

Not me! I try to hold out for a minimum of three years. It is so hard!

I am hoping my new M1 Max will last me three or more.

 

[Quackers]

Me
I bought a 15" retina MacBook Pro in January 2013 (a mid 2012 one) and in February 2021 I bought my current M1 MBA.
The 15" is still working fine - battery and all - I used it to revive/restore my M1 MBA after experimenting with fresh installs in its early days

 

[mcnallym]

I waited from 2009 to 2018 to replace my Mini.
Is just an iTunes server
2010cMP bought in 2013 replaced in 2019 with i9 9900k / RX580 hack

With the ProRes encode in M1 Pro/Max then looking to replace the 2018 mini and had,, if they get round to releasing a mini with the Pro/Max.

 

[Tozovac]

2006 Mac Pro. First Mac. $$$ Thought I was future-proofed for at least 10 years. Dumb move, felt out of date and not powerful enough in just 4 years. Even after adding lotsa RAM.

2014 MBA 8gb 128gb i7. Pretty bare. Served me well till this very day. Hate carrying around an external drive.

Now debating between a $1739 M1 MBA 2TB 16gig or $2400 14” 2TB 16gig M1 Pro…

 

[Traffy]

I waited 11 years. From my first MacBook when I was still a student in 2010 (MacBook Pro 13 inch intel core 2 duo) to this year (MacBook pro 14 M1 pro).

 

[alien3dx]

3 years since work horse

 

[Jethro!]

MP 2009 still humming along nicely. Upgraded the snot out of it. Skipped the trash can MP.
Considering the new MP, if only Apple had reasonable pricing. Not ruling out moving to PC.

 

[pow-spectral-let]

Still using my 2013 MacBook Air i7. Tempted to get an M1 Air but the old one works just fine.

 

[Colstan]

I have been trending toward a 7-year replacement cycle, after some missteps with the PPC-to-Intel transition, where I switched too soon and ended up with a dead-end 32-bit Core Duo Mac mini, so I am more cautious these days. My current cadence:

2011 - i7 Mac mini, which is the only Intel mini to feature discrete AMD graphics
2018 - i3 Mac mini
2025 - M(?) Pro/Max - Mac mini or iMac

I had originally purchased the cheapest base model 2018 Mac mini as a "stopgap" because rumors of Apple switching to ARM were strong at that time. Since some software, particularly computer games, are taking extra time to make the switch to Apple Silicon, I've since upgraded my Mac mini with 64GB of system RAM, added a Black Magic RX 580 eGPU, supplemented the anemic 128GB internal SSD with a 500GB external SSD, and somehow managed to get my hands on a brand new 21.5-inch 4K UltraFine to go with it. I like to say that my computer is held together with "sticks and bubble gum", but it fits with my more cautious approach to Apple's processor transitions.

I'm going to try to make it to roughly 2025, plus or minus a year or two, before upgrading to an Apple Silicon Mac, particularly with how bad the supply chain currently is, but remain flexible on that timeline. I don't know what generation the M-series will be at, but I want to at least make it to the M3 generation and/or TSMC's 3nm process. For the time being, I'm doing fine with the last of the Intel Mac minis, ramshackle as my current setup may be.

 

[Spindel]

2006 Mac Pro. First Mac. $$$ Thought I was future-proofed…

You can not future proof a computer. I wish this idea would go away.

 

[Tozovac]

You can not future proof a computer. I wish this idea would go away.

Oh please. Future proof just means a reasonably longer useful life than another alternative one might be considering, usually at a higher cost.

 

[pshufd]

I bought the 2007 MacBook Pro 17 new, then the 2014 MacBook Pro 15 new and now the 2021 MacBook Pro 16 new.

 

[MacCheetah3]

Me (although, like you, not at first).
I don’t recall the exact year of purchase for some:

Macintosh LC III
— The first computer of which I eventually upgraded the RAM. And Brickles comes to mind.
1995 Performa 6200CD
— Power Pete anyone?
1998 iMac
— The beginning of colorful Macs, and hours of Nanosaur.
PowerBook G3 (bronze keyboard)
PowerBook G4 (Ti 1GHz)
iMac (G5)
Power Mac G5
— Magnificent design but what a beast (size and weight)
2007 MacBook
— I called it the BlackBook, twas the premium model.
2013 Mac mini (2012)
2021 Mac mini (M1)

EDIT: Apparently, I upgraded more often than I realized.

I’m thinking a refurb iPhone 14 and not yet sure about when I’ll replace my iPad.

You can not future proof a computer. I wish this idea would go away.

Well… It’s like insurance. You might end up benefiting (from over spec), but probably not (especially if you’re sensible).

 

[iPadified]

I do. The MBP 2013 is replaced this year. I do the same for iPad and iPhone. When the device cannot run the software or are broken, I will replace the device.

 

[T'hain Esh Kelch]

I got a 2006 MBP, which was complemented with a 2011 iMac. The MBP was then updated to a 2016 MacBook retina, and I am now contemplating upgrading both. Will likely be a couple of years before it happens though, as both are technically running sort of fine. Just waiting for Apple to figure out what to do with users who want something in between the Mac Mini and Mac Pro.

 

[ZebedeeG]

I seem to be on a 6 year cycle:

2009 24" Core 2 Duo iMac

2015 27" i5 Skylake iMac

2021 24" M1 iMac

But I do keep the computer I'm replacing and still use it for many years to come before passing it onto family. I'm continuing to use the 27" regularly, and my original 2009 iMac is now in daily use by my Godson for his homework.

I'm still using a 2014 MacBook Air when I need portability, though I am starting to think perhaps when the new Air comes out next year it may be time for an upgrade...

Apple computers aren't cheap to buy, but I feel I'm getting my monies worth out of them so they work out pretty good value in the end, and touch wood so far I haven't bought a lemon!

 

[stinkhorn9]

I’m on the cusp of getting something in M1 Mac form: I just haven’t figured out what yet. Still using a 2009 Mini (C2D; 4gb) and a 2009 MBP (ditto) for dedicated work that each still handles - while using a soon-to-be-upgraded iPad and a modern iPhone to plug the gaps that they can’t fill. Meanwhile sitting on a shelf unused is a 2015 i5 iMac. I guess you could call my computer usage somewhat ‘modular’ - historically driven by budget forcing me to align myself with the restrictions of the tech I have. I need to streamline / organize - and I am in the position to do so; I’m just not sure which way to go...

 

[hardw0od]

I'm still using my 2010 Mac Pro. It has had many upgrades throughout the years, i.e. 64GB of Ram, a Radeon 5700, 6-Core 3.46 Xeon, PCI-e OWC M.2 card, etc. It still holds up very well and handles most tasks relatively well. I was going to purchase a newer Mac Pro but just as I was about to buy Apple announced their own silicon and it made me a bit gun shy about forking over the cash for a machine that was going to be obsolete soon enough. I will wait for the M1 Mac Pros to release before I make a new purchase.

 

[MacRazySwe]

I’m guessing none of you actually sell your old devices? I kept my first 15” MBP for 5+ years. From a financial standpoint it wasn’t very smart, as lost nearly its full value.

Now I try to switch whenever I can make the jump at a reasonable cost. Usually 2-3 years is a good timeframe. Black Friday is perfect for this!

Bought my M1 Air last year on Black Friday and sold my 2018 model on Craigslist. Cost to trade up was $150 or something.

 

[Bodhitree]

Hmmm… I’ve gone through some periods of PC ownership long ago, but the last computer I bought before this summers 24” iMac was the 2011 MacBook Air. So I’ve been 10 years between buying computers (not counting iPad and smartphones).

 

[stinkhorn9]

I’m guessing none of you actually sell your old devices? I kept my first 15” MBP for 5+ years. From a financial standpoint it wasn’t very smart, as lost nearly its full value.

Now I try to switch whenever I can make the jump at a reasonable cost. Usually 2-3 years is a good timeframe. Black Friday is perfect for this!

Bought my M1 Air last year on Black Friday and sold my 2018 model on Craigslist. Cost to trade up was $150 or something.

It’s a learning curve for me: I was aware Macs ‘held their value’ - yay! - but not after twelve years ?

 

[CmdrLaForge]

Same here. Went from late 2013 MBP to late 2021 MBP.

 

[TechRunner]

I usually go 4-5 years. Longest was my 2015 MBA, which I replaced at just over 5 years with my current M1 Mini (I used the MBA mostly in clamshell mode with monitor, mouse and keyboard).

 

[Eithanius]

From my 2010 MBP 15” to 2021 M1 MBA - 11 years…

Still rocking the former for BOINC and major downloads…