What with all the new phones and tablets out there, you might think that people would be using laptops less than they were a few years ago. However, this is not the case. Many people have come to depend on their laptops for work and leisure in place of a desktop computer or tablet.
Laptops have come a long way from the clunky computers that were around in the 90’s. They are smaller, lighter and generally much more affordable than they were 20 years ago. Besides, you can easily use them almost anywhere thanks to their portability.
You can use it at home or office while working, take your laptop to your comfy couch after work and watch a movie. If you have a long trip with a lot of waiting periods, you can play games on your laptop on the go.
But when to replace your laptop? There are a lot of chances that come with a new laptop, including failure in the hardware, software or even in the battery. And every owner would want to make sure they get the best bang for their buck on their next purchase.
How Often Should You Replace Your Laptop
On average, you should replace your laptop every 3 to 5 years. You can extend this time period if your laptop is in good shape and has no impending hardware failures. As for laptops that are used for business activities, they tend to wear out earlier than their counterparts do.
There are many factors that can affect the life of your laptop, some of them can be easily avoided through proper maintenance.
Outdated Hardware
Technology moves fast, unless you are only doing the basics on your laptop such as word processing and emailing, it will most likely not last more than 5 years. This is because on average after 5 years hardware become outdated. New software will be released and old hardware will not support them, so the older it becomes the more likely it is to break down.
For instance, most laptops released in 2010 will not play 4k video files. Also, your laptop might not be able to keep up with the newest games or applications. The good news is that most new laptops are upgraded on a yearly basis in terms of hardware and software to ensure that they can still compete with the upcoming technology.
If you want to continue using your laptop after 5 years, you will have to continue updating the hardware on your laptop every now and then.
Laptop Quality
Depending on the type of laptop, its brand and when it was first released, there are different quality levels. While all laptops have similar hardware that will not break down easily, the overall quality of the laptop can vary.
For instance, laptops with lots of updates that support new hardware might last a bit longer than those that do not have updates to speak off. Think about where you are going to use your laptop most often.
Apple laptops are known for having the highest quality and dependability. They use the best components and have reliable battery life since they are designed to last longer.
The cheaper the laptop the harder it is to run and maintain it. For instance, if you are looking for a low end laptop to run basic websites and some word processing, it will most likely not last more than 3 or 4 years. It is also much harder to find any software that can support them.
Taking Care Of Your Laptop
Some laptops can last for up to 8 years, but that only happens when you take care of your laptop. There are many things that you can do to help keep your laptop running for a long time.
The first thing to remember is that computers store data. This means that any downtime can cause damage and loss of all your information. This is where backups come in. If you have a good set of backups, you can recover and get your data back.
Cleaning your laptop is important, too. The keyboard and the touchpad can get dirty over time from touching keys, surfing the web, etc. Cleaning them regularly will help them to last longer.
Maintenance of your laptop can be as simple as keeping it plugged in with the correct power adapter or a surge protector. Good maintenance will also help prevent issues that may cause damage from occurring.
Wrapping It Up
With all the new laptops out there, it can be tempting to go out and buy one right now. However, it is important to take these things into account before buying.
Since you are going to use your laptop for a long time, you want to make sure that you get the one that is right for you. You may want to save up and get a better model.
If you are looking to upgrade or replace your laptop, then it is important to take the time to find the right one for you. Find out what features are more crucial to you and which ones you can do without.