RE: I have found that any MS PC has a shelf-life of about 18-24 months before key components start to fail.
How about Macs?
We’ve used Macs exclusively for home and business since 1984 and have never had one fail. We replaced them only because applications we used stopped being supported with the outdated OS’s.
My MacBook Pro is about five years old and running the latest OS. Never had a crash or any other issue and I use it hard.
They’ve made significant improvements and it would be nice to have a new one, but they don’t make the 17” screen, which I have and love, any longer. Sure, it’s bigger, but I don’t travel with it since I have an iPhone and iPad.
Maybe we’ve just been lucky, but I’ll take it.
I have 2 office/industrial-grade HP microtowers running Win-7 Pro x64/SP1 since 6/09, with zero burps/farts/fails. Maybe the exceptions, but I always buy higher-grade/upper-level machines. Pays-off in the long run.
How about Macs?
I use Dell Precision computers for my work. The most demanding software is CAD. The Precision line is the industrial strength desktop. It costs more than the bargain computers but not by that much. I get five years before software has evolved past the capacity of the computer. I also buy a warranty. In five years expect a disk or something to fail, Dell will replace it on site.
My architect clients do like the Macs. Don't understand them. They cost more than the Dell Precisions. They need a windows card to run PC software. They have to switch operating systems a few times a day. All this requires more system software to run their pigs of machines.
I don't see an Apple takeover.
I’m just 1 person (& very hard on my computers. Or my dog, Mia, is), but my first 2 Compaqs barely made it to 2 & were sent back for repair frequently (2-3 times a year). I’ve had 3 Macs since 2004; a G4, Powerbook, & MacBook Pro. The G4 motherboard supposedly died. The Powerbook needs a part in the hinge replaced (that illuminates the screen) but will sort of work with a cable to another monitor (user incompetence on the “sort of”). The MBP will be 3 in October. The only issue I’ve had has been power cords on the G4 & this one.
I find it most peculiar that DH prefers his Lenovo (Windows8) over my Mac. It’s slow, it’s abrasive & annoying. I’d rather do without.
I guess it’s just what you’re used to.
Oh & I have a little Lenovo S10 that has a virus, so not working. Cute, convenient, utterly worthless. I got tired of struggling with viruses, constantly.
"How about Macs?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I bought this 17" Macbook Pro in 2005, and use it 8-10 hours per day. Except for worn spots on the keyboard, it still looks -- and works -- just fine. I did have to replace the battery right before my extended warranty ran out. BUT -- Apple replaced it FREE of CHARGE -- AND refunded most of my extended warranty fee, "because it never was used"....
I bought my previous PowerBook G4 -- sight unseen -- used, from a fellow FReeper, ca 2002 -- and used it the same way until I bought the 17" MBP. My wife still uses it several hours a day...
And those are laptops, that get lugged around, all over the country...
I have found Macs to be very reliable. Typing this on a Mac Mini Server 2010, no problems. My wife uses a Macbook 2006 daily, eight years no problems. Younger daughter has a Macbook 2007, failed last year after she spilled a drink into the keyboard - I replaced the keyboard and it’s fine now. She also has a MacAir, brother-in-law has a MacAir, they’re good. Another daughter has a MacBook2007 and a newer iMac. With about a dozen Macs from 1 to 8 years old in the immediate family only one MacBook Pro had a problem where a graphics chip from a supplier went bad and Apple replaced it free under warranty. Pretty good track record for quality. One of the reasons I gave up on my failure prone PCs running Windows (although I have Windows on a partition in my Mac Mini).
I haven’t had a PC or Laptop die in less than 6 years for at least the last 12 years. In fact I have at least 3 in service at home that are over 6 years old with no issues. Maybe you are buying crap hardware?
FWIW I have 2 desktops, 4 notebooks and 1 netbook that I bought for less money than I would have spent on any two apple products.
“How about Macs?”
They’re typically pretty good. We have a couple of iMacs that’ve been used heavily and are 6-7 years old. They’re now stuck on MacOS 10.8, support was dropped in 10.9. That’s fine, they still work well and run their applications as desired.
I can always install Linux if I feel the need.
I’d like to see Apple introduce the xMac, essentially a mid-tower form factor with i7s available and high-end graphics options. There’d be a lot fewer Hackintoshes in the wild if that happened.
My MacBook is 8 years old. I replaced the battery for 99$ and then the hard drive after I dropped it for $400.
Works great
That’s it
