How Often Do You Get New Personal Computers?
I'm in the midst of setting up a new personal computer, so I thought it might be a fun discussion: how often do you buy personal computers? Do you try to keep a laptop as well as a desktop? Do you only have a work computer and then use something like an iPad, Chromebook, or just your phone for other things? Which programs (new or old) are must-haves for you? Are you on Team Apple, Team PC, or Team Other? Where do you fall on important questions like mechanical keyboard vs. ergonomic keyboard?
For my $.02… I try to keep a laptop as well as a desktop, both PCs. I had an Apple laptop 10+ years ago which I killed by spilling a martini on it, whoops — but having been on Team PC my entire life all of the minor differences between the two systems were majorly annoying me.
When my second to last laptop died, I bought a Chromebook instead, but really didn't like that — obviously a lot of my work is on the web, but I missed being able to sort things into folders.
My most recent laptop was bought at Costco a few years ago — I just went off the specs Wirecutter recommended for speed and so forth, and was pleased with the price (maybe $650?) and I've been pleased with the computer, which is handy if we're going on a longer vacation as well as if I just want to work on the couch.
My personal desktop is probably 10 years old, at least, though… my father (now retired but formerly an electrical engineer/patent lawyer) has always been tech savvy enough to build our computers, picking out different components like graphics cards, hard drives, cores, etc., so he was extra helpful in helping me choose new components for this one.
The new computer is great (very fast, lickety split!) but… I'm having problems finding my most-used folders and documents, so that's fun.
The programs I've already installed: Microsoft Office, Slack, Spotify, Canva, Paint, iCloud, and Evernote.
A related question, I suppose – how often do you get new cell phones? I thought my phone was relatively recent (2021, an iPhone 12-mini, I think) but everyone who got good pictures during the eclipse made me realize that I do need a new one, and when a tech-savvy friend was looking at my phone recently he couldn't get over “how tiny your old phone is, they don't make them like this anymore!!”
Over to you, readers — how often do you get new personal computers? Which are your favorite programs?
Stock photo via Stencil.
i am intrigued by the original post. why have a desk top and a laptop? i can’t imagine…. most people i know if they like a desk top set up have a port and screens etc but use the laptop as the “brain.” I can’t see why i would want to have two personal computers….
Huh! I’ve been thinking about it since you posted your observation — I never had a laptop until I went to law school, and my primary goal then was to have something that was super lightweight to run around to classes with it. I’m trying to remember if I had a desktop AND a laptop during those years (don’t remember), but I think that was when I started thinking about them differently. In my mind it’s like the laptop is a notebook that is lightweight, inexpensive, and fun, whereas the desktop is like a filing cabinet that is much more robust and holds all the stuff.
I also definitely think of my desktop as my “work computer” and my laptop as more of my fun computer for a bit of work/life separation.
I don’t know anyone that has both a desktop and laptop other than serious gamers!
For home, I basically only need internet and light use of Word or Excel (sometimes Google Docs is just not what you need) and so tend to keep the same laptop for 5-10 years.
For phone, my 11 Pro from 5 years ago is still doing just fine, and I actually like the pictures it takes in dim light better than the newer iPhones!
Team Apple, replace every 8ish years
Same!
I replace my phone about every 3 years, and my laptop…always after too long, it seems! I shifted from Windows desktop to Windows laptop around 2014. I got a new Windows laptop in 2021. I’m hoping to get another year or two out of the current laptop, an HP Zbook Firefly. It’s got good performance and great speakers, and it handles anything I throw at it with graphics programs. But I’m very frustrated that I’m not able to install open source programs like GIMP or Open Office on this HP.
My home laptop is now essential to my work, so when I do upgrade again, it will be an investment. Really wish I could dodge the noose of bloatware and get a Linux-based TUXEDO.
I still spent less on my laptop than my husband did on his home laptop, and his main use for his is to watch videos and play games!
I hate replacing my computer. I dread that task.
Luckily, my boyfriend works in IT so every five years or so he buys me a new laptop. He used to work for HP and still gets a discount there so he goes on their site and configures it for me. Then the new laptop sits in its box in my home office for a month or so until I succumb to his nagging to set it up.
My rule is that I will keep my phone until it loses upgrade trade in value. For instance, I just got a new iPhone 15. I was able to get trade in credit for my iPhone 12 and basically get a new phone for “free” (contract extension) but my mom was not able to get a deal for her 11. That made me realize think that I traded at the perfect time, so I plan on keeping this phone until the cutoff for credit is “iPhone 15 or newer”.