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Who here waits 7+ years before buying a new Mac? The M1 Mac Mini is my first Mac purchase since 2013.
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My rMBP is 8 years old next month. I had the battery, top case and speakers replaced for $300 and I'm hoping this baby makes it to 10 years old. 
My 2008 MacBook was a pain to use before it even hit 5.
My 2008 MacBook was a pain to use before it even hit 5.
I purchased a 2007 Mac mini in 2007 and replaced it with a 2011 Mac mini in 2016.
1996 Performa 6400
2002 eMac (needed more robust internet connectivity than Performa had)
2006 MacBook Pro 15" (needed portability, kept using eMac for another few years)
2011 MacBook Pro 13" (GPU in '06 MBP died) - upgraded RAM and hard drive over the years, still worked when traded in
2021 MacBook Pro 14" (hope it lasts another 10 years)
2002 eMac (needed more robust internet connectivity than Performa had)
2006 MacBook Pro 15" (needed portability, kept using eMac for another few years)
2011 MacBook Pro 13" (GPU in '06 MBP died) - upgraded RAM and hard drive over the years, still worked when traded in
2021 MacBook Pro 14" (hope it lasts another 10 years)
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My desktop machine is a late 2014 5K Retina iMac, ordered shortly after it was announced and received (if memory serves me correctly) in December.
If I replace it with an Apple Silicon iMac next spring, as I hope to, that will be just over 7 years.
My last MacBook was purchased in 2006, so 15 years ago, although I haven’t used it in over 5 years because the iPhone and iPad met all of my mobile computing needs. I bought 13” M1 Pro last fall and hope to use that for at least 7 years.
If I replace it with an Apple Silicon iMac next spring, as I hope to, that will be just over 7 years.
My last MacBook was purchased in 2006, so 15 years ago, although I haven’t used it in over 5 years because the iPhone and iPad met all of my mobile computing needs. I bought 13” M1 Pro last fall and hope to use that for at least 7 years.
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2007 white MacBook
2014 rMBP 15“ 16GB
2020 M1 Air 8GB
The white MacBook is still used by my 10y/o daughter for a school software called “iserv” that is a thing in my country. But for most modern use cases it’s not capable anymore as it’s stuck at 10.7.5 Lion.
The retina MBP was traded in for the M1. Loved that machine though.
Uh, before I forget:
There is still a 2010 Mac mini I bought used for about 250€ that acts as a small home server/time machine-machine. Upgraded so an SSD and a built-in Blu-ray drive as it’s connected to my TV.
2014 rMBP 15“ 16GB
2020 M1 Air 8GB
The white MacBook is still used by my 10y/o daughter for a school software called “iserv” that is a thing in my country. But for most modern use cases it’s not capable anymore as it’s stuck at 10.7.5 Lion.
The retina MBP was traded in for the M1. Loved that machine though.
Uh, before I forget:
There is still a 2010 Mac mini I bought used for about 250€ that acts as a small home server/time machine-machine. Upgraded so an SSD and a built-in Blu-ray drive as it’s connected to my TV.
Current computers are 2012 models – i7 Mini, and 13" i5 MBA. Both still working fine, but obviously with limited life for using with Mac OS (especially online). Not to mention generally falling ever further behind on hardware standards (including that they can't do 4K, and the Air has a TN screen.)
I have ordered an iPhone 13 Mini (currently on an original SE), so that might kick me along to upgrade the computers too. I deliberately held off when the 2018 Minis came out, and that looks like being a good move. Now I can just go straight to the AS range, which means longer life.
I have ordered an iPhone 13 Mini (currently on an original SE), so that might kick me along to upgrade the computers too. I deliberately held off when the 2018 Minis came out, and that looks like being a good move. Now I can just go straight to the AS range, which means longer life.
I sold my Late 2012 iMac after using it for 6 years. Bought a 2018 Mini which is running fine on Monterey.
I’d like to keep machines for as long as it’s feasible to do so.
The first Mac I bought was a Performa 6100 series back in the early 90’s. Also bought the first gen iMac. And later, another and another. Been using iMacs since they were introduced.
I’m excited to see what the next iMac will be. Then I’ll send the Mini to one of my family members.
I’d like to keep machines for as long as it’s feasible to do so.
The first Mac I bought was a Performa 6100 series back in the early 90’s. Also bought the first gen iMac. And later, another and another. Been using iMacs since they were introduced.
I’m excited to see what the next iMac will be. Then I’ll send the Mini to one of my family members.
After 10 years, my 13" 2011 MBP with 16GB of self-upgraded RAM & 1TB SSHD running High Sierra is still usable, on the original battery for at least 4 hours. It boots and does quite a few things, like playing iTunes music, movies, and CD's (ever heard of those shiny disc thingys?) but due to software compatibility with most of the Adobe apps among others and no further security updates for online use, I have had to relegate this die hard piece of hardware to digitising vinyl records, scanning photos, and other media jobs like streaming Netflix to a 21" monitor. It won't be for sale, I don't need the money, unless someone wants to one day pay me what a working Apple I is currently worth.
So it has been a decade since I bought my last MacBook. Now rocking a 13" M1 Air. Here's to the next 10 years!
So it has been a decade since I bought my last MacBook. Now rocking a 13" M1 Air. Here's to the next 10 years!
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2012 2.7Gh 16/512 macbook pro retina. Using with a 4K 43" monitor(albeit can run only 30hz). Battery needs updating, however most of the times I'm on my desk anyways.
Currently have 10 application windows + 6 browser tabs open. Works like a champ.
Will wait for a year or two till all software catch up to M1/pro.
Also have a 2017 27" imac 3.8Ghz/64gb/2TB .
Currently have 10 application windows + 6 browser tabs open. Works like a champ.
Will wait for a year or two till all software catch up to M1/pro.
Also have a 2017 27" imac 3.8Ghz/64gb/2TB .
Yet amazingly far from the longest, with only a 6 year jump! Just goes to show how much the practical benefits of faster computers has started to fall off.
I just upgraded to a new 14" MBP this week (10c/16c M1 Pro). My last new mac was a Late 2013 27" iMac, which I got over 7 years ago and still runs great for most everything. My previous daily laptop was a hackintoshed 2011 ThinkPad X220, which I got used in 2016 but is a good 10 years old now. Apart from an aging battery and being limited to High Sierra, it also still runs great!
Honestly, if I wasn't getting into heavier compute stuff at work I would have probably held off another year or two.
Exactly. After skipping several generations, the difference is undeniable, no need to guess or convince yourself. In other words, the feeling you expect when “upgrading."
Just upgraded from a 2013 MacBook Air to the 16 inch pro honestly with an iPad pro and iPhone I didn't really need to even Xcode and some other dev tools I run still work ok.
I just saw my 1984 original Mac in my closet. Does that count?
It has been upgraded to a Fat Mac (512 K of memory) and I have a 10 MB external SCSI drive and original Apple printer. The printer was one of the first to allow a person at home to do graphics.
It has been upgraded to a Fat Mac (512 K of memory) and I have a 10 MB external SCSI drive and original Apple printer. The printer was one of the first to allow a person at home to do graphics.
I’m still using a late 2012 iMac with 3TB fusion drive. It’s just been totally reliable, on virtually 24/7 for almost ten years. It’s a little slow but does everything I need it to do. I’ll replace it when the larger M1 iMacs come out.
Laptop timeline here is 1998 bronze keyboard, 2002-ish TiBook, 2009 15" MBP, late 2013 15" rMBP.
The 2009 had an unfortunate incident with a glass of red wine, and after repair was sent off to my daughter who used it until a couple years ago.
The 1998 still works and I turn it on every few months just to spin up the hard drive and see if it still boots. (I actually used it for a data recovery exercise a few months ago.)
The 2013 is starting to develop a slightly squirrely touchpad. At present, though, I need the x86 capability in order to run an x86 linux VM. I'll probably hang onto it for a while yet. Aside from the very occasional touchpad glitch, it still does everything I need it to do, and it's the everyday "office" machine.
The 2009 had an unfortunate incident with a glass of red wine, and after repair was sent off to my daughter who used it until a couple years ago.
The 1998 still works and I turn it on every few months just to spin up the hard drive and see if it still boots. (I actually used it for a data recovery exercise a few months ago.)
The 2013 is starting to develop a slightly squirrely touchpad. At present, though, I need the x86 capability in order to run an x86 linux VM. I'll probably hang onto it for a while yet. Aside from the very occasional touchpad glitch, it still does everything I need it to do, and it's the everyday "office" machine.
2003 PowerBook G4
2011 MacBook Pro
2012 MacBook Pro
2021 MacBook Pro
Was really ready for a new Mac by 2018. Just couldn't find anything worth purchasing though. The iMac Pro would have worked for me, but couldn't justify the price at the time. Had no interentest in the the 2013 Mac Pro or the defective touchbar, defective keyboard, paper thin Macbook masqurading as a "MacBook Pro" that was being sold in 2018.
I was just starting to shop for a PC device when M1 came out.
2011 MacBook Pro
2012 MacBook Pro
2021 MacBook Pro
Was really ready for a new Mac by 2018. Just couldn't find anything worth purchasing though. The iMac Pro would have worked for me, but couldn't justify the price at the time. Had no interentest in the the 2013 Mac Pro or the defective touchbar, defective keyboard, paper thin Macbook masqurading as a "MacBook Pro" that was being sold in 2018.
I was just starting to shop for a PC device when M1 came out.