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.

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.

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.

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.

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a little bit of good/bad luck as well. 3-4 years is a general rule of thumb I use in terms of the technology being out of date, but if you take great care of your laptop it can remain functional for 8 years.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

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.

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.