How often do you get a new computer?

Lately it has been about one every three years.

When they get baked, I buy a new one.

when the old one dies for the third time

I tend to follow Moore's Law with my computer purchases. Then again I'm a electronics technician so therefore more likely to geek-out.

Moore's Law states that the number of circuits in an IC [integrated circuit] doubles every 18 months.

My addition to Moore's Law is that the price of a comparable system drops by half every 18 months.

So if you want a fantastic computer go to your nearest geek and ask, "If I wanted the bestest, fastest, most awesome computer system available what would it have in it?" Write down everything he/she tells you and then take that list and stick away somewhere for 18 months. At the end of that time, take out the list and go down to Fry's or the local Geek-owned computer store, give them the list and tell them, "I want this."

This computer will cost you anywhere from $1500 to $3000 less then it would've 18 months before.

Added bonus is that the games that were new and fantastic 18 months ago are now $29.95 vice $69.95 and consist of "Game-Of-The-Year" editions and other bonus goodies. Those that aren't on the shelf anymore probably weren't that good to begin with.

Hope this helps.

if a person is buying one then probably need one more often like maybe ever 2yrs.but bulding one thats a different story
as they can be built to be upgradable
mine was built 2yrs ago, have since add more memory, externalHD, have room for 2g more ram which bring it up to 4g. have room to add 2 more HD's inside, I would like to add double the video card but just haven't had time, to busy. but theres room
any way things like this are possible when you build your own, so they last much longer but you do keep upgradeing things as you go along and new stuff come avaiable, new software etc.

I get a new laptop every two years. Whether I need it or not.

I'm still using my first one which I bought new in October, 2002.

I replaced the first monitor in February, 2006.

I replaced the second one in February, 2009.

maybe every 3-5 years

I don't get a new computer until my current one breaks. I kept the computer before this one until it literally caught fire and stopped working. There was some sort of mixup installing a new CD drive...

Every 4 or 5 years

Believe it or not, this is my 1st PC. I've had it a year now. That's right folks. Ol' Eric, used to have a life. lol

Probably about every 5 years

not nearly enough

I retired my old PC last Saturday. It was built for me by a friend about 10 years ago. It had two server quality SCSI disks and was totally reliable. About 4 years ago, he gave it a new lease of life by replacing the motherboard. Sadly, even the replaced motherboard was too slow, and so I had to get a new machine. After messing about with the new one for nearly week _almost_ everything works and it is much faster.

Old hardware gets outdated in about 2 years. I buy a new one every 2 years.

My laptop is new, I purchased from couponsnapshot.co.uk. I used my old laptop for three months:)

about every 4 years.

Depending on the reliability of the unit I get or my needs for a certain period of time

Around 4 years

When I'd have to strip out more than I'd leave in.

New hard drive? not bad.

Need more ram... for which i need a new mobo... which would require a new processor? Time for a new one.

I had my last one about 4 years, I've had the one I've got now for maybe a year.
And it just occurred to me I'm not sure if I ever paid for it. hmm.

ever 2 years abouts

As much as I hate to say this, I just realized I've been getting a new computer on average every 2 years. How I wish I was not at all into PC games and the internet. That's a lot of dough to spend on one thing.

Every 5-6 years. Usually because the last one breaks down.

When software I use is no longer supported. I'm on my 4th computer at the moment (since 1988). So I guess that averages about every 5 years.

For business and professional reasons I buy or rebuild new computers often. I have several computers that are "mine" for work, and recycle them into personal computers when they get old. In my business we plan on a 2 year life for laptops and 3 years for personal desktops, since IT is our lifeblood. They are still perfectly usable, and we recycle them for our data entry operation. When they start getting old and cranky replace the hard drive and give them away to the high school students who do our data entry, or to nonprofit organizations.

When the last one dies, about every six years.

I add and replace parts every year or two. I recently just shoved in a new board, RAM, and processor - it's sextacular to say the least.