How long do laptops last now?

[Conan The Librarian]

I need a new computer. How long do laptops last these days? I'm looking at budget models of about $400.

[Anna]

I think that would depend a lot on what operating system you get. Windows is a virus trap even if you
don't go to suspect web sites.Expensive virus programs are a money pit,malware is the newest vehicle being used against you.My 10 year old HP lap top is still going strong with no problems.
Because when I first got it I had Linux put on it. No viruses or the expensive anti virus protection
nightmares associated with windows. NONE ! 

And I have been able to download and operate any program that windows does. If you can navigate
windows,you can learn to run Linux within 30 minutes or less. It is a myth that Linux is so complicated that you have to be a computer whiz to use it. It only calls things by different names
just like a Mac does. And you will pick up on that very fast, and never give a windows OS another
look after that. It's just convincing yourself to take the plunge, and if i can do it you sure can also.

[Lon371]

I am playing on a 2 year old Toshiba and daughter uses the same. We have had no mechanical issues for the moment. So far the bugs have been a minimum. For what that is worth.
 
Lonny

[nw_hunter]

I think that would depend a lot on what operating system you get. Windows is a virus trap even if you
don't go to suspect web sites.Expensive virus programs are a money pit,malware is the newest vehicle being used against you.My 10 year old HP lap top is still going strong with no problems.
Because when I first got it I had Linux put on it. No viruses or the expensive anti virus protection
nightmares associated with windows. NONE ! 

And I have been able to download and operate any program that windows does. If you can navigate
windows,you can learn to run Linux within 30 minutes or less. It is a myth that Linux is so complicated that you have to be a computer whiz to use it. It only calls things by different names
just like a Mac does. And you will pick up on that very fast, and never give a windows OS another
look after that. It's just convincing yourself to take the plunge, and if i can do it you sure can also.

I'm using my (OLD) LT right now.This one is a HP G60 Notebook PC. I think it's a 2008 model. Not sure as I got it used.It's prob. at least 4 years old.Still going strong with Windows 7 on it.
Most of my Desk Top PC's have been Re-formatted, with Ubuntu, Mint and other Linux programs.  I currently have seven or eight PC's I play around with. I also repair and give away old PC's to kids that cannot afford one.Most I get don't have O.S's on the hard drives, so I use the free linux operating systems. Ubuntu is a good one, and if you can get around the www on windows 7, then Linux shouldn't be a problem.Plus! There are tutorials everywhere online to help you with learning to use Linux.Another plus is...........Lack of nasty viruses that are common on Windows.
 

[Anna]

+1 on that NW . I've had Ubuntu so long now when I get on windows it seems sort of crude to me.
I haven't tried Mint yet, but I've been wanting to. I've even forgotten all the anti virus and malware
problems I see on the computers at work. So I just use my own, but Apple is another animal entirely.
Or at least the iPads are. I still don't believe that Mac is a better OS over Linux. Virus free means a
longer hard drive lifespan. Not that Linux can't get a bug, but I still haven't ran into one yet.

[Conan The Librarian]

Interesting! I hadn't thought of Linux, but it may make some sense for me. I think the sticking point is that my laptop needs to use MS Office for compatibility with people I collaborate with, so I may be stuck with Winders. It has to be totally compatible, not partially, like some of the mac-to-windows utility that allow you to save files in Excel format.

The malware thing is no joke. I don't think the anti-virus companies can keep up with the rate anymore since hacking viruses and malware switched from a hobby activity to a crime activity. I read that there are there's a uniquely new never-been-seen-before malware product hitting the internet about ever 20 seconds.

Thanks for taking the time for the thoughtful answers. I appreciate it.

[nw_hunter]

+1 on that NW . I've had Ubuntu so long now when I get on windows it seems sort of crude to me.
I haven't tried Mint yet, but I've been wanting to. I've even forgotten all the anti virus and malware
problems I see on the computers at work. So I just use my own, but Apple is another animal entirely.
Or at least the iPads are. I still don't believe that Mac is a better OS over Linux. Virus free means a
longer hard drive lifespan. Not that Linux can't get a bug, but I still haven't ran into one yet.

Same here! So far (No Bugs) Another neat thing from Linux is called (Puppy Linux) You can download the latest version of Puppy Linux....Called Precise Puppy. Save it to a Disk, and if your computer goes down, open the cd tray, pop in the Puppy disk, shut down the PC and if your computer will boot from  disk, it will reboot as Puppy Linux. The cool thing about it is, it will work without a hard drive at all.It works on Ram alone.So far I havent had any luck WiFi, but will go online from the ethernet connection to modem or router.It's also a good tool for working on a PC, that won't boot from the hard drive.Let's you go in and take a look around   A good thing is......Like most Linux programs, it's FREE!

[Redtail1949]

i have great success with several HP laptops as well as their desktops. if you get the power and the memory when you buy it as opposed to upgrading later it will cost you much less.
my son just bought his wife an HP with a top end AMD Processer 4 megs of mem and all the bells and whistles fot 500 or dollars. he says it realy is quick and she runs a lot of high powered graphics software and stuff for use at College. he states that he is really surprised at the performance. both he and i built our latest ones (desktops) so if he says that laptop performs it must really be a good one.
there are many great deals out there and with todays processing power you will be good for a long time in the future.
I say stay with windows op systems as there will be so many more apps available. however my son like many here dabbles with Linux and the others as he says they are great. He does aknowledge the limitations in programs. Get a good anti virus program and keep it updated and never look back.

[magooch]

At the moment I'm using a cheap acer Aspire that my wife bought over 6 years ago.  The operating system is MS Vista and it hasn't had a bit of trouble.  I use MS Security Essentials, which is free from MS.  I switched from Office to Sun Micro Systems Open Office for word processing and other stuff.  That is also free and is hardly distinguishable from MS Office.  The main difference is it will open MS Office stuff, but Office will not open Open Office stuff--hence the name, I assume.


We use Comcast Xfinity for internet provider and that is where we email from also.


I've been playing around with Google Chrome for a search engine and it is lightning fast--even on a not so fast router.

[Anna]

Interesting! I hadn't thought of Linux, but it may make some sense for me. I think the sticking point is that my laptop needs to use MS Office for compatibility with people I collaborate with, so I may be stuck with Winders. It has to be totally compatible, not partially, like some of the mac-to-windows utility that allow you to save files in Excel format.

The malware thing is no joke. I don't think the anti-virus companies can keep up with the rate anymore since hacking viruses and malware switched from a hobby activity to a crime activity. I read that there are there's a uniquely new never-been-seen-before malware product hitting the internet about ever 20 seconds.

Thanks for taking the time for the thoughtful answers. I appreciate it.

I have and operate MS office within my Linux OS just fine. You download the newest version of
( Wine) . It isolates it into what's called a cell, and translates that into what the program needs thinking its working within windows. Linux also allows you to have windows on your system as a program set up. If you need it you can just switch over, but it is not the default OS Linux is, and is
in total control of the system at all times .

[tom548]

Find an older IBM T42 and it will last very long if you don't drop it or some thing like that.  I have three the newest one was new in 2000. I have one daughter that seems to break any computer she gets. I bought her a used T 42  for $145.00 about 3 years ago and she loves and it still working.  They are just solid machines. And you can buy 2 for the $400.00 you have to spend.

[Bugflipper]

Lenovos are pretty good for windows laptops. One of the hinges broke on my hp so I looked for a stronger one. They would jump on the lenovos, throw them down and pour water on the keyboard on the torture test videos. I was debating between them and the toshibas because both had the coolest operating temps. Decided on the lenovo due to the strength. I found one at buy dot com pretty reasonable. Before I knew that lenovo had more budget friendly models I bought my mom and dad a toshiba. It's been good with no issues besides having to get viruses off of it for them. Mine hasn't had any problems either. I would recommend a cooler to put it on, the little usb plug in deal with fans. Heat kills laptops a lot quicker than a desktop because of the smaller fans and cramped quarters. If you want to use it on your lap just get a cheap plastic butcher block to set the fan on then the laptop on top of it.

[oldandslow]

This is from a guy that makes his living repairing computers and I listen to him. The main killer for laptops is heat. The cooler you can keep them running the longer they last. Set them on a hard surface or better yet when you are sitting around with it on your lap (since it IS a laptop  ) use one of the fan cooled desks available just for that.

My wife's laptop sees a lot of use because she plays a lot of games. It's a HP that's over four years old now and that's the advice she follows. It's never had an issue, period. Free Avast is it's virus protection and it's never had a virus and you really don't know it's there except when the little screen pops up to tell you it's been updated. We have been using Avast on two laptops and two desktops for over two years now without one problem.

I have another laptop, a Gateway that's over 10 years old now. It was the wife's gaming computer until she decided she wanted a more powerful one. Other than a broken hinge which Gateway fixed free even though it was out of warranty it's still going strong but doesn't get used much now.