Laptop durability and Lifespan

I now intend to buy my laptop not from a shop but from someone else. But before, I'd just like to know: what can I expect from a 1-2 or 3 year old laptop in terms of durability, to which extent will it be affected? I tend to keep my computers a long time, so it counts (I kept my last computer 5 years).

Someone knows the average lifespan of laptops? Or even better: anyone would know how to have an idea of the average lifespan of each brand (IBM, Toshiba...)?

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Island Dog

Join Date 06/2003

+1047

I think it all depends on how the previous user treated the laptop. If the previous owner was someone who dropped it all the time, I wouldn't expect it to last too long. However, if someone kept it in great condition, it could last for years.

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Zoomba

Join Date 11/2002

+114

1. Don't buy a laptop older than 1 year. Laptops are almost always weaker than their desktop contemporaries, so a 2 or 3 year old laptop is the equivalent of a 4-5 year old computer. It may be cheaper to buy that now, but you'll just be replacing it sooner.

2. Laptop durability is a mixed bag. Dells tend to be pretty solid, while in my experience Toshiba and Fuji laptops don't stand up to much abuse at all. But again, the good durability is a recent thing, and if you go back 2 or 3 years for an older model, you're asking for trouble.

You can't use your experience with desktops to gauge how long you'll be keeping your laptop. A desktop can be easily upgraded in bits and pieces to extend life. With a laptop, what you buy is more or less what you have to deal with. And you can't nickel-and-dime when buying a laptop like you can with a desktop PC, you really get what you pay for if you do that.

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I agree, it is a mixed bag. My first laptop, a cheap Microspot 486DX4 with a whooping 8MB RAM ("designed for Windows 3.11") still works like a dream (it is just a little slow now

) and not a single part of it is broken.

My second laptop (Pioneer Computers, PentiumIII 900) lived for exactly 13 months before the Motherboard died the first time and the replacement motherboard was good for another 8 month before I gave up on it and just threw the whole thing into the bin.

Since then (July 2003) I have a Sony VAIO (AMD AthlonXP-M) and it is solid as a rock despite it being transported all over the world and used on sandy beaches in tropical heat.

I would agree with Zooma, 1 year old would probably be the way to go anything older is a risk.

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For general computing, I'd say that a 1 year old laptop's ok - as long as it still has warranty. However, do note that Windows Vista is launching end-2006 and it does require a good machine

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My experience with ACER laptop was not very resistant. Asus looks better. Beware there's no video card upgrade for a laptop. Memory can get a few slots, but probably not much if the laptop is old. You'll probably want a new battery if you intend a lot of mobile usage.

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parts after 5 years are not esay to get !

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