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Comment by keymone | Hacker News Reader

define "life span"? a laptop only "used by four-year-old" is pretty dead laptop. can it fully replace your every-day development/whatever machine?

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The laptop he's talking about is from 2001. It's 11 years old. Of course it can't replace a modern dev machine! However, it still works as a machine and a 4 year old child is using it as an introductory machine. That doesn't sound like dead laptop; it sounds like one that has exceeded expectations and continues to work in a limited capacity (like a Mars rover!).

technology progresses fast, more than that - it progresses faster than it progressed 2, 5, 10 years ago. getting newer laptop is not a linear jump in benefits you could get with upgrades so from consumer point of view getting shorter life span is logical.

also less repairable/upgradable device is often more solid and reliable.

dropped repairability is just a tradeoff between delivering more "awesome" device and delivering longer-lasting device - no wonder apple has taken the path it did.

p.s. no-one forces you to throw away laptop you own just because new version was released. in fact most macbook owners will just sell current devices and in 10 years time it might still end up in hands of 4 year old

The laptop I'm using now, and have been using for a bit over a year now is --not sure of the exact vintage but-- pre-2004. It is my every day machine at home.

Now I haven't actually upgraded it in that time, so it's not really a data point against unserviceable machines but it's sure as hell a data point against 2 year life spans.

My main workstation (does 80% of the work) is an old Lenovo R61 thinkpad. About 5 years old, no repairs whatsoever. Well, if we don't include all the OS installs I've borked. It does need a new fan, but I plan on replaicing it.

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