Old Laptops: How Fast they Become Obsolete – or do they?
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I was on my desktop computer typing an article when I started thinking about the speed of which computers seem to become obsolete. I was thinking back to my first laptop, an expensive Toshiba which is long gone and was very limited in capability compared to laptops today. I used it for a few years and finally gave it away several years ago.
During that time my brother, the one who was a computer geek by today’s standards had gone through several computers and laptops while I stuck to the old Toshiba. Well now he has departed and I have his latest laptop. It’s sitting here on my bed as I was trying to find the model number. I cannot find one, but it is an HP, I believe a Compaq model. The closest I can come to a model is a black label on the bottom saying CRV5A-02T1-90. It does have another white label with the product number DC945AV.
It is about six years old. I still use it occasionally. Some of my other computers don’t have MS Word on it so I occasionally type an article on it in Word and later add it to one of my sites or submit it to article directories. The main reason I keep using it is I have a lot of files on it that I don’t want to clutter up any of my other computers with. It also has several projects which my brother Keith and I were working on until his untimely death some four and a half years ago.
Even though it is very slow starting up it is quite useful for typing articles when I don’t want to be stuck to my desktop computers (I have three of them). I can take it into another room and concentrate when it’s impossible to do that where my regular computers are. The only bad thing is that the battery is shot and it needs a new battery. They are quite expensive I’ve been told so I have not opted to get a new one. I don’t take my old laptop with me anywhere so that is not a problem to plug it in to the wall plug when I need to use it.
Now that I think of it I still have several websites stored on my laptop. It is good for keeping a backup of my sites. The only problem with that is actually creating the backups and loading them on the laptop.
During the last five years I have been using my old laptop my sister has gone through two or three new Mac laptops. She is a Mac fan and swears by them. She just bought a new one to take to her latest African Safari. It really did come in handy for her as it gave her the capability to download well over a thousand pictures from her camera on to her laptop. She was able to use some free time during the safari to start creating her newest book on that safari adventure on the new Mac laptop.
Well what’s the verdict? Are old laptops obsolete? It depends a lot on what you are going to use them for. If you are a power user – then definitely Yes! If you don’t need the power, speed, or memory capabilities of newer laptops then No old laptops are not obsolete.
If you really don’t need yet another computer (like me) then no, the old laptop is still useful. If you don’t have the $500 or more to get a new one then no, your old laptop is not obsolete.
As you can see it depends on the use of the old laptop whether it is obsolete and might need replacing. If you are the person that really needs a new laptop computer you have so many choices and prices that it can make your head swim. Good luck in getting the new computer of your choice. Or you can be thrifty and get a refurbished laptop, a used laptop, or a hand-me-down one from a brother, sister or friend if you are lucky.
Copyright © 2007-2008 Charles Harmon
About the Author
Charles writes articles for websites. One of his new interests is African safaris now that he has been on one. For travel articles visit Travel List. Charles has just created a new blog CharlesHarmon.com where he rambles on about many things.
