Computers-When do you think it's time to say--Time For a New One....

5 years already? I must say I am surprised it has not already broken down! But seriously, if a computer can last for 5 yrs, it deserves a pat on his motherboard. ^^ So here's my suggestion, go ahead and get a new computer. For your current one, use it as a backup. Chances are that it is going to spoil anyway... so use the new one and revert to the current if things go wrong - it would give you some time to arrange for a third computer. :P

Well, if the present one is just one year old and your friend says you are good for another 3 ,then I don't think you need to change much.By the time you really need to change anything ,there would be many upgradations on the present versions.So,it's better to wait when you are having no problems. The present one I am using is custom built and I like working on it.I have a Acer laptop for backup ,but hardly use it.I know the common essentials of a computer.Can't say I know it inside out .I am more into softwares than hardwares.So,when I need suggestion on something that's new to me ,I either turn online or go to a friend of mine who is into computer manufacturing.

I usually have kept my computers for about two years before getting a new one. I have had my current one for about that long and still runs okay but I think the only thing it really needs right now is more RAM and somewhat bigger hard drive and it still should work well. I would like to get a laptop so I can have one to take around and would be insurance if this one were to crash. Sometimes you will know to get a new computer when they no longer sell parts for your current computer.

I've had my same computer since 2000 it came from radio shack then,when they had the booths in there selling for other companies.I have friend that know alot of things about computers.He installed a new hard drive and extra ram to it 3 years ago and a few other things.My computer has been doing good.He just bought a laptop from best buy and thinking about giving that to me.I guess when your computer is slow thats when you neee another one or need to install..

I actually handpicked the parts inside my computer. As long as it's compatible and it will run smoothly then I'll buy it. It should also be cheap. Whenever a new operating system, game, or software comes out and it has high requirements then that's the time I replace the part that needs an upgrade. You don't have to buy the whole package just because one part isn't compatible. As for my computer, my motherboard is already 2 years old. My newest addition would be my graphics card.

I often say it!! hahaha, only because computer companies always releases a new one one after the other. Well its all in the mind. I'm not changing it that quick. But I'll probably upgrade it piece by piece. Eventually, it'll be looking like a new one :)

in computers u cant say its got old and time to change coz u can upgrade it using higher parts and if ur pc is too slow means all the parts become older and u get bored seeing the same pc then u can really CHANGE it. now u can say its time to change the System.

Mine is very old too, I think built in 1995. I would love to get a new one too, but don't have the cash. I would be lost without mine. If you have an old one, you have to know how to diagnose problems on your own. Once you are not in the warrantee period, it is useless to call for example, ibm, to get help. you need to do usual "maintenance" on it, etc....to make it last. I don't keep alot on my c drive, and clean it out as often as possible. If you take care of it and know how to fix problems, then it will last a long time.

It is about six years, when I bought a computer. Now due to some viruses, and upgradation I have changed my system and bought a new one. Because, If I upgrade it, it will be of no use as upgradation cost is almost the same as of the new one.

Now a days with new advances in Hardware every day, its difficult to keep your system to the latest specs. I always try to upgrade my Computer in 3 years.

I would say it is up the individual as to when to get a new computer. If you are happy with the one you have and you are able to run everything you want on it without it being to slow then you should be fine for a while. Let me tell you though new software is being built to run on faster machines, so check the hardware requirements before you buy. Also old software is being phased out, so if this is important to you, you will need to keep up at least enough to still have technical support if you need this. You can upgrade old computers some what to handle new software, but eventually they will become dinasours. They may still have some life in them however, they just may need to become re-purposed. If your computer is only a year old you should be good for some time, depending on what you purchased.

My current computer I have had about 7 years now and it's still working like the day I bought it. Of course, it's been through numerous upgrades. I custom built my computer and when there's something new I need to play a game I upgrade that one section only. It's an easy way to not get hit with a $600 bill (if you buy those bottom line ones) every so many years. Instead, I spend about $100-$150 every 1-2 years in it. Actually, since I haven't played games that often anymore I haven't upgraded in almost 2 years. I know everything in my computer and I know what it can and can't do. I'm actually due right now for a hard drive upgrade as I'm running out of storage space. In this computer I've only had 2 parts every fail, one CD-RW drive and the power supply once. Both were easy and simple replacements that were under $25. Beats spending a fortune at once on a new computer.

When i feel like im not happy with my old computer and im getting jealous to somebody who got a new version or latest model of compact, Apple something like that...

i think . if we get infected by by a b00t sector virus den we shud buy a new 1 rather getting it reparied

throughout all my history with computers I needed a new one only when the last one was really old or when someone in the family needed another computer I always got the new one while he got mine (lucky me).

When I started out... I bought 3 computers between 1994 and 1999... and it cost me $5500 . I decided that it was like throwing money out of the window. The 1999 one was a Pentium II 350... I still have it and while slow... it is running better with Windows XP than it did with Windows 98. The only thing I changed was the hard disk. I have a 80Gb hard disk in it. I also bought a second hand Pentium IV 1.70GHz last year... and I feel that it is all I need. I don't plan to get anything else for a while. In conclusion... if you don't use your computer as a game machine to play the latest games... a Pentium IV 2GHz is more than adequate to do everything you want to do. Buying a new computer every two years is strickly for the people who have too much money. I do upgrade my computers when there is a need for it. Like increasing my ram memory or buying a larger hard disk... or a better video card... but that is all. I still have the printer that I bought in 1995... a HP Laserjet 4L. But I had to buy a new scanner because the old one was not compatible with the Pentium IV. I needed a PCI SCSI card which almost cost as much as a scanner. So I bought a new scanner. The other thing I did in 2002 was to buy a 17 inches monitor. That made a big difference.

i love computers. i cant live without them. i got my computer changed three times. i love latest technologies. i purchased a new gameboy cabinet for my computer and even i an a X360 lover, so i have a x360 box with lots of games. but still hang out with computer for chat and making new friends.

I have mine DIY. I don't really know much about these stuff too. with all the dual core, core 2 dual stuff. I don't even know what's newer now. I just keep using until I find that some news stuff is actually running slow on my PC. Thats when I decide to go back out to the market and hunt for the new stuff to add on. Its a chore, to DIY your PC. There are prices to look at and many other things like OEM and direct parts. But hey, as long as the computer is usable, I dont bother.

Im not a comp expert but i know quite a few things,basically u neednt go crazy after every new upgrade that hits the market, most of it is unnecessary.morover if u already have a decent enough system with all the sound cards and graphic cards, u can stick to it for good deal of time.One thing u need to make sure is you must always make a thorough analysis on the latest availables in the market when u upgrade ur computer.And by analysis i mean its uses and whether it is needed for you.Im the sort of a person who goes by what my brother( a comp expert) says.And what he says is what i have just told you.We buy our computer parts off the market and we fix it all by ourselves and we make the necessary softwares installed , we don't go and seek the help of an external person.thats it!

My personal expririence with this is actually quite recent. I jad an old 17 gig, 256 mb RAM...this thing was like 8-10 years old easily. This thing would sound like a bomb was about to explode from with in, while the charge was warming up. And u could hear the damn thing from the other room. Then every so often you would hear a spring being set off; every 4 second or so. When ur computer does this-get a new one....I went through dell CANADA-who's costumer service is very good-nothing like the horror stories i read on forums. The dell computer really does look nice, bold and professional. It works too! You can even customize your P.C-which I like...all in all DELL ROCKS!