When it's over

Don't know where else to post this, so...

I've been thinking about the following somber scenario: There comes a time, probably ~5 years down the road, when the high-end laptop you spent a months wages on has got old. It is worn and torn, having more or less served its purpose. What do you do then? Just throw it away as you would an empty Coke bottle? Or keep it, along with all the other relics of the past that have accumulated over the years? Perhaps disassemble it and sell the parts for a decent sum, if that is an option? The money spent on the computer would seem to exclude treating it as any other garbage item. What is a fit end for an expensive notebook?

That is basically my final problem before I pull the trigger on a Clevo machine worth roughly the same as all my other belongings put together. 'Tis a question just as philosophically oriented as it is practically.

 

Recycling it would be the most logical option or relegating it to light duty if you have need of a server or something like that.

 

I try to make use of it in another way. A file server is a good example. Alternatively if you know someone that has a computer even more ancient (or in worse shape), they could potentially make use of it. I've done both with my older laptops.

And then there's the good old let them sit around the house. I admit to doing that to. The computers aren't worth the hassle to sell and I personally can only manage one or two computers at a time.

Regarding buying an expensive notebook, it's all about getting your money's worth. I spend several thousand on my HP EliteBook and while I don't use it to full capacity, I get enjoyment from the fact that it's so well built and has a ton of features (again I don't use all of them, but I like having them). And of course the IPS screen, which is the primary reason I bought it. So just make sure the notebook you're getting has ALL of the features you want, makes a few compromises as possible, and most importantly fits your needs. Not hard to justify a more expensive purchase like that.

 

I'd find another use for it. You could recycle it, or make in into a backup computer or a server of some sorts. Or put it to work, such as Folding@Home or other medical/scientific crowd projects.

If it ends up not working period (won't boot, you can't fix it), you could also consider parting it out for other, creative uses. For example, my old Toshiba is a paperweight. I gave a 2GB DDR2 RAM stick to my girlfriend to up her laptop from 2 to 3GB (though it's a C2D-era Celeron, so it's still not too good, but whatever), and I plan on cutting up the mainboard to make earnings for her eventually.

 

The best thing to do is to keep it whole and sell it as a functional laptop on Ebay. You will get a decent sum of money, and somebody else will make use of it.

 

Beat me to it.

I agree with private's suggestion on F@H, let that laptop run cancer analysis software for it's final hours. At least it'll help humanity for it's last task

 

When my systems are too old for me - I donate them to (private) individuals.

They work as well (or better) than when I first bought them, but are simply too slow to keep making me money vs. what is available at the time.

To me, this is more satisfying than making a few bucks by selling/parting out (which I have made many times over with the system in question) and I already have no more room for the systems I am using (so no F@H scenarios - not to mention having to service even more systems...).

When a young family that is just starting out (needing every penny it can scrape together), a young person (needing a 'real' tool for academic studies) or a would-be entrepreneur is just starting out with hopes, a smile and not much else; this 'direct' donation gives them more than just hardware - it shows that someone believes in them and usually pushes them to really excel. I'm not rich - but this is my way of giving back to my community and the world.

 

My philosophy is to use hardware until it dies. If I have no more need or someone I know needs it I donate it. My old 2007 desktop, old m4400, t400, x200s, dell vostro 1700, acer 5672, and alienware m11x r1 all still live and either server their purpose as a friend or family members computer or a server at home or work.

No sense it throwing away good hardware even if its "dated" as it can still serve some purpose.

 

I buy good notebooks at great prices and upgrade them myself so the price is always much lower then when bought in stores.
I also plan ahead when to sell it, just before a new generation appears because the price will sink.
For those reasons I can always have an high end for a low price. I often sell them for just a bit lower then I paid for it. like 2500 retail, bought + upgrades for 2000 sold for 1800. then get new one and do it all over again.
I also sell it to stupid people that don't understand that prices in stores are too high and overprice, so they are always pleased when buying it from me at a lower price. in fact, sometimes I just buy and sell it to make profit.

 

Thanks for the replies, it seems there are some worthwhile options to consider when the computer's time has come. Now for the final lap of the purchase, which consists of snipping down the price to get exactly what I want, so I don't feel like I wasted good money.

 

As long as it runs I keep it. Unless it becomes obsolete like 8-track or something like that.

If I already have a backup computer and its just sitting idle in the closet, then I'll give it away or donate it to charity. I personally wouldn't sell something like that.

 

I only buy notebooks when the prices are significantly lower than what I consider actual market value, like when HP has a 33% off coupon or I see something on sale for hundreds off, for examples. Then I use the laptop for a year or two, sometimes less, and sell it for basically what I paid. That way I keep my own technology fairly new while not losing hundreds of dollars every year.

I have done this the last three years and never sold a laptop for much less than I paid for it. Owned four notebooks in that time period and the most I lost on one of them was $50, and that was after a year of use. I sold two for the same price I paid and actually made $75 on the fourth one.

 

Some good suggestions here. Giving it away to someone whose computer isn't doing so well, or doesn't have one, is a good idea. Not just for computers, but also other fairly high-cost items that depreciate but still work, like cars. Giving it away to a relative who doesn't have one or has an unreliable one will probably mean more to you than the low amount you could sell if for in the end.

Myself, my laptop is now at that 5-year mark, as of later this month. It was fairly high-end spec-wise 5 years ago, now, not so much, and it does have some aesthetic wear and tear. But, it still works more reliably than it did new (it had Vista when it was new, and doesn't now). And in my case, it's still my only laptop. So I still use it sometimes - I take it with me when I travel, and sometimes use it in the house on the sofa or whatnot. Or as a mobile recipe book in the kitchen. The good news is that it's still fast enough, that the only reason I'd want to get a different notebook is for a smaller size or lighter weight (sounds like yours will probably still be reasonably fast for basic tasks in 5 years, too - unlike if you were buying it in 1995). So I'll probably keep using it, as long as it's working. If I do replace it, I'm not sure what I'll do with it. On the one hand, it would be obsolete, on the other hand, it was my first laptop and has been quite reliable for years.