Continuing Computer Problems

[crossover_chick]

Mom said I should try playing Alice, so I popped in the disk today. Like my late-night run of Kaspersky, the computer shut itself off within minutes -- fortunately I was just messing around on the menu screen at the time (reading the notes adapted from the first game casebook). On the plus side, it hasn't pulled any "I shut off when you go to shower/eat" shit today. I've sent an e-mail Samsung's way to see what they say. And trying to mentally prep myself for losing my computer for a second time this summer. *sigh* (Hence why I'm off AIM -- I'm feeling a bit too "ugh" for conversation.)

Just had this question pop into my head: for those of you who do own them, what's the longest you've ever had a laptop for? (I would hope a year ISN'T the natural lifespan of these things.)

Comments

[anonymoose_au]

I've had the green machine since 8th April 2008, so that makes it over 3 years old.

Further to that Dad once had a laptop that was more than TEN years old. Slow as molasses but still worked!

So yeah, they should last. Technology updates might make 'em obsolete for top-of-the-line games and stuff, but it should still work! The warranty itself usually goes for 12 months.

[docsgirl.livejournal.com]

I see -- wow, ten years and still going strong. Your dad's laptop sounds amazing.

Yeah, I know -- Chester's under warranty until August, which is one of the few "okay" things about this situation. It just pisses me off that this is happening now. >.

[anonymoose_au]

Well it wasn't exactly going strong...it took like three seconds for the cursor to respond, but it still stayed turned on!

Hmmm, hopefully you've got everything backed up because they might need to replace yours or something. Sucks that it happened though!

[docsgirl.livejournal.com]

Heh, but even still. . . .

I need to update a few files, but I've got pretty solid backups on a USB drive. Tis really annoying, indeed.

[martyfan.livejournal.com]

Over three years is how long I had the Craptop before I got a new model. It still works, but it has been off for a very long time, and "works" is subjective. Mostly I still have it because I don't know what to do with it. The second laptop I have still works too, a lot better, but not as good as the one I have now. That one also lasted about three years. Mine are Lenovo though, and the brand does make a difference in quality and lifespan.

[docsgirl.livejournal.com]

Craptop -- I like that. :p So another one for the three year mark. I getcha about the brands, but you think Samsung would be able to match your Lenovo. Of course, you never know. . . *sigh*

[martyfan.livejournal.com]

All three of my laptops have been from the same design family, too. My first was an R51, the second was an R61, the third (that I use now) is regrettably a T410 but it's almost identical in design. Gotta have my button mouse in the middle of the keyboard!

But yeah, there's a lot of factors that go into laptops. And that's before you get to the hardware and what you use it for. A computer optimized for office-type work that you use for gaming is going to burn out a lot faster than one that's made for the higher stress and heat of running graphically-intense games.

[docsgirl.livejournal.com]

Ahhhh, cool. (Me, I couldn't get used to a touchpad, so I got myself a USB mouse.)

Very good point. I thought this thing fit the minimum system requirements pretty damn well, of course, and I used it for The Sims -- but then again, this isn't a specifically-made-for-gaming computer. I've gotta learn to think about this sort of shit when it comes to buying computers.

[martyfan.livejournal.com]

Heh, I never use the touchpad unless it's just tapping it to turn off my screensaver.

Yeah, that's the thing. It's *minimum* requirements. Which means it'll run, but not well. And just having hardware that runs it doesn't mean it's quality, or capable of doing it for a long time.

That's one of the big advantages of ordering a computer on line. You get to customize ALL of it. Model, graphics card, sometimes cooling systems, memory, all that stuff. You get exactly what you want, not what's available. Next time you get a computer, I highly recommend taking a look around and finding a good gaming rig. Laptops aren't really meant for gaming as a whole, but there are a few that cut it quite nicely.

[docsgirl.livejournal.com]

Same here, basically. It drives me nuts with the sensitivity.

I'll keep it in mind, yeah. I don't want to essentially "kill" any other computers.