A lot of variables affect laptop life. Hard drives are susceptible to failure a little sooner in a laptop(than with a desktop), due to heat buildup in the confinement of a laptop housing.

Batteries in older laptops just wear-out after a couple or so years; replacements are usually available from the manufacturer and third party generic sources.

Dust can be sucked inside a laptop, and in time can clog up the internals, and require disassembly. Disassembling most laptops are a "don't try this at home" kind-of project. :eek:

Malware infection isn't the end-of-the-world, is most simply fixed by reinstalling the operating system(ie- Windows).

Hubby's HP just died this weekend.

Really.... his laptops don't last more than 3 yrs (and sometimes less) and have all been HPs.

Last time it was his screen. This time appears to be a boot failure but could be the screen again. He is taking it in to IT today... a task he does not relish.:rolleyes:

My sister actually buys HP's, not because they're good or have everything she wants on them. Just buys them because they're cheap and she doesn't care if it only lasts a couple of years. She figures she will keep up with technology doing that. I personally don't understand that.:confused:

Computer "years" are like doggy and kitty years. The life-cycle of consumer electronics is getting shorter and shorter- with cell phones some wireless service providers are making it easier to "upgrade" sooner, presumably due to consumer demand, and not for increasing sales.

With my electronics hobby, I have to fight the urge to purchase the "latest and greatest" devices. I'd love to buy an iPad Air, but my 5 yr. old Macbook is still doin' what it's supposed to do. :winky:

Longevity of a laptop varies
 

If the fan is small or broken, it can cause your laptop to overheat and shut down, or possibly even die. Keep it elevated on a cooling pad, repair the current fan if it is broken or install an additional fan. You could also even take a standard fan you currently have and direct it to the hot spots, if you will.

As for longevity, it depends entirely on how the laptop is used, with a little bit of good/bad luck as well. 3-4 years is a general rule of thumb I use in terms of the technology being out of date, but if you take great care of your laptop it can remain functional for 8 years.

This is my philosophy too. I buy a new HP laptop about every two years. I work on the Internet and travel a lot so I tend to wear these things out. It is nice to have a fresh start and then recoup some funds when I sell the old one on Craigslist.

My current HP (the one I am typing on) is a G7 17" and I love it. Two years is coming up in June and I am not sure I want to give this one up :D

But, I have had to replace the fan in this one already as it imploded and caused overheating.

But, I am a HP fan and will continue to replace them every couple years (mostly for giggles).

I would guess that 5 years is about the average lifespan for any laptop that is used on a regular basis.

Still gimping along. :D

judi

To prolong life.....the chiller is a good choice. What most people do is set them on their lap on a pillow, or set them on a bed or couch. This doesnt let the laptop breath, and will overheat.

Heat kills laptops :(

Heat sure does. :(