Cost of upgrading Macbook (air) every year vs every 3-5 years

[Nvidiaguy07]

I have a current-gen Macbook Air, and love it, and would be able to use it for 3-5 years no problem. I played with the idea of upgrading at every new release, and was wondering how much more it would actually be to upgrade frequently, as opposed to using it for 5 years, and basically having no resale value.

Assuming they cost 1300 brand new, and once the next gen air comes out they are worth 1000:
spend 300 after 1 year
600 after 2 years
900 after 3 years
1200 after 4 years
1500 after 5 years

Which would mean that if the computer was worth 0 after 5 years, and you decided to keep this generation that whole time, and upgrade on the fifth year, you would spend 1300.

If you upgraded and sold every year, you would have spent 1500 total, and would have had a brand new computer every year. Yes i know my numbers are just estimates, and im not factoring in many things, but how much could i be off by? (not to mention, i usually get at least a small discount - paid like 1200 for my 13" last time)

Some other estimates
Assuming you can sell for 200 less than you paid for it: you would have spent 1000 over 5 years
Assuming resale value is 400 less every year: 2000 over 5 years (only 700 more)

One more thought:
same concept, except one year behind and buy used. So you can get a used year old macbook air for ~1000, and probably sell for 800 one year later? (i have no idea what the resale is, or if this is right) I personally rather pay a little more and have the newest.

Does this make sense to anyone else? Or am i just trying to justify upgrading every year.

 

[bearxor]

I think you greatly undervalue the resale value of Apple notebooks.

I could turn around right now and sell my 2008 15" MBP for $800. Thats only around 50% over 4 years and it will likely hold above $600 over the next year.

I still see second-gen MBA's going for over $600. In 4 more years, the current-gen MBA will probably be going for 500-600 used. That would put your upgrade at about $800 in 5 years.

However, I say keep it unless theres a new feature you want/need. If you want USB 3 or the faster intel graphics, you might want to sell off your current gen when the new ones come around.

 

[lokiju]

If the update this year is worth the trouble I'll sell my 2011 13" MBA prior to the release if the rumors are pointing to enough reasons.

Always tends to be better to sell your current device BEFORE the announcement of the new one IMO.

 

[MrX8503]

Yeah, if we're getting a huge Macbook update I'm gonna sell my MBP13 too.

 

[runawayprisoner]

I think you greatly undervalue the resale value of Apple notebooks.

I could turn around right now and sell my 2008 15" MBP for $800. Thats only around 50% over 4 years and it will likely hold above $600 over the next year.

I still see second-gen MBA's going for over $600. In 4 more years, the current-gen MBA will probably be going for 500-600 used. That would put your upgrade at about $800 in 5 years.

However, I say keep it unless theres a new feature you want/need. If you want USB 3 or the faster intel graphics, you might want to sell off your current gen when the new ones come around.

Actually, I'd love to see how you can turn around and sell your 2008 15" MBP for $800 when the 2009 15" MBP is already approaching $850 on Craigslist.

Apple's devices have been losing value a lot faster lately. The iPad 2 on Craigslist now go for almost $200 off their retail price just a week ago.

 

[Nvidiaguy07]

I think you greatly undervalue the resale value of Apple notebooks.

I could turn around right now and sell my 2008 15" MBP for $800. Thats only around 50% over 4 years and it will likely hold above $600 over the next year.

I still see second-gen MBA's going for over $600. In 4 more years, the current-gen MBA will probably be going for 500-600 used. That would put your upgrade at about $800 in 5 years.

However, I say keep it unless theres a new feature you want/need. If you want USB 3 or the faster intel graphics, you might want to sell off your current gen when the new ones come around.

Well even if itll cost me 800 in 5 years, I think having the newest every year until then might be worth the extra 200.

I think more than anything i need to get a better idea of what happens to the value of a mac as the years go by. I just kinda assume that they drop in value 2-300 every year, so the difference between a 2011 vs 2010 vs 2009 is 200 less every year (hopefully)

I think for myself personally, if i were going to keep this macbookair, it would be for at least 3-5 years, so i guess i would have to estimate the value of it then.

I guess i should also consider that in that time, i probably might be more interested in a windows 8 tablet/transformer, that will double as a tablet/laptop/can be docked as used as a full pc.

Either way, I'm kinda asking if the drop in value after that first year (from 1300>1000) is worth just selling and buying the newest (the deprecation is going to add up anyway, and as long as im eventually going to buy something new, might as well just do it in smaller increments)

Again, i might just be talking nonsense right now, but i wanted to see what other people think of it.

 

[runawayprisoner]

I'd say that if you want to stay on top, no sense in not updating, especially given that you can buy brand spanking new machines every year instead of having to stick with an old and creaky one for a long while.

In either case, the value depreciates about the same amount.

 

[TheStu]

As it stands right now, the 11" MBA's battery life would have to improve DRAMATICALLY in order for me to get another one now that I have used the iPad. I have a desktop for raw horsepower and gaming, the Air for anything portable that the iPad can't handle, and the iPad for everything else.

Now, if once they tear open the new iPad and find out that Apple was able to cram in 70% additional capacity without making it significantly larger then we may be on to something.

 

[runawayprisoner]

Now, if once they tear open the new iPad and find out that Apple was able to cram in 70% additional capacity without making it significantly larger then we may be on to something.

Well, I know this belongs in another thread (I think I should make an official iPad 3 thread), but I can't help but comment on this battery capacity increase.

It's pure... magic. They increased capacity, or in other words, density, without significantly increasing size or weight. That makes no sense, so I think there is more to it than that.

Or Apple simply broke the laws of physics...

 

[MrX8503]

It's pure... magic. They increased capacity, or in other words, density, without significantly increasing size or weight. That makes no sense, so I think there is more to it than that.

Or Apple simply broke the laws of physics...

If you increase its density you can avoid increasing its size. However increased weight is something that's unavoidable, the battery tech would have to be something else entirely.

 

[slayernine]

I think the real cost is that you get to look like a douche Mac Owner for 3-5 years.

Hey now, be nice!
-ViRGE


I guess I'm just not a nice guy.

 

[Nvidiaguy07]

I think the real cost is that you get to look like a douche Mac Owner for 3-5 years.

Honestly, I didn't originally want to buy a Mac, but the state of PC laptops kind of forced me to. I honestly could not find one that didnt lack in some way. Maybe ultrabooks will change this, but right now (and when i bought it) the market was pretty pathetic.

Mac hardware and build quality is the best. I could care less what people think.

As and far as using OSX, im actually loving it. The trackpad/gestures is enough to get me to probably stick with mac laptops for a long time.

 

[jihe]

I have a current-gen Macbook Air, and love it, and would be able to use it for 3-5 years no problem. I played with the idea of upgrading at every new release, and was wondering how much more it would actually be to upgrade frequently, as opposed to using it for 5 years, and basically having no resale value.

Assuming they cost 1300 brand new, and once the next gen air comes out they are worth 1000:
spend 300 after 1 year
600 after 2 years
900 after 3 years
1200 after 4 years
1500 after 5 years

Which would mean that if the computer was worth 0 after 5 years, and you decided to keep this generation that whole time, and upgrade on the fifth year, you would spend 1300.

If you upgraded and sold every year, you would have spent 1500 total, and would have had a brand new computer every year. Yes i know my numbers are just estimates, and im not factoring in many things, but how much could i be off by? (not to mention, i usually get at least a small discount - paid like 1200 for my 13" last time)

Some other estimates
Assuming you can sell for 200 less than you paid for it: you would have spent 1000 over 5 years
Assuming resale value is 400 less every year: 2000 over 5 years (only 700 more)

One more thought:
same concept, except one year behind and buy used. So you can get a used year old macbook air for ~1000, and probably sell for 800 one year later? (i have no idea what the resale is, or if this is right) I personally rather pay a little more and have the newest.

Does this make sense to anyone else? Or am i just trying to justify upgrading every year.

Reinstalling all the softwares and personal files every year, just as I am getting used to the new laptop, would surely drive me crazy.

 

[runawayprisoner]

Reinstalling all the softwares and personal files every year, just as I am getting used to the new laptop, would surely drive me crazy.

On a Mac, most of the time, you just have to swap the drive...

 

[Sid59]

probably more worth the effort upgrading on CPU core updates. For me, the incremental, and negligible performance upgrade isn't worth it.

Posting from a 13"MBP, 2.26ghz C2D, 4 gig of memory and 500 gig hdd.

 

[Nvidiaguy07]

Reinstalling all the softwares and personal files every year, just as I am getting used to the new laptop, would surely drive me crazy.

probably more worth the effort upgrading on CPU core updates. For me, the incremental, and negligible performance upgrade isn't worth it.

Posting from a 13"MBP, 2.26ghz C2D, 4 gig of memory and 500 gig hdd.

I can deal with it. To be honest, I kinda look forward to reinstalling at least once a year. Gives me a fresh start. (Primarily a windows user, maybe this would explain why)

Even right now, I'm itching to do a fresh install even though it probably doesn't need it. I just want to do it because im using it the way it came when i opened it. I want to actually install and update myself.

I really dont tweak or install that much stuff. I just link my dropbox, install a few downloaded apps, office, updates, etc. Most can be done quick, and its not like its hard to do. I usually do something while doing it (TV, Movie, video game, homework, etc.)

I'm playing with a few ideas right now, but I can't stop from thinking I'd probably be spending the same amount either way.

Waiting 3 years and selling current MBA and buying new one = selling every year and buying new (in terms of money spent)

 

[ViviTheMage]

Actually, I'd love to see how you can turn around and sell your 2008 15" MBP for $800 when the 2009 15" MBP is already approaching $850 on Craigslist.

Apple's devices have been losing value a lot faster lately. The iPad 2 on Craigslist now go for almost $200 off their retail price just a week ago.

yeah, I sold my 2008MBP for $450 on ebay ... it was a PITA to sell at that price.

I too might sell my 2011MBA 13 if the new rumors warrant the upgrade .. IE IB and better displays.

 

[Nvidiaguy07]

yeah, I sold my 2008MBP for $450 on ebay ... it was a PITA to sell at that price.

I too might sell my 2011MBA 13 if the new rumors warrant the upgrade .. IE IB and better displays.

Whats IE? or did you just mean i.e. Sorry if i read that wrong. I havent heard about a better display though. All I've heard so far is just an upgrade to IVB. Which for light gaming (team fortress 2) might be a reason to upgrade for me.

I really just need to determine if a 1 year old mac loses less value after 1 year, than a 3-5 year old mac.

 

[ViviTheMage]

Wow, I mean IB, ivy bridge, and a better display, haha....I have heard rumors of 'retina' going on the MBA.

If you sell your MBA a month or two before release day/announcements, you will make more if you sold it after.

 

[Nvidiaguy07]

Wow, I mean IB, ivy bridge, and a better display, haha....I have heard rumors of 'retina' going on the MBA.

If you sell your MBA a month or two before release day/announcements, you will make more if you sold it after.

I think being an early adopter of retina on OSX kinda scares me. Im worried about apps not scaling right and things like that. It would be nice, but thats one thing i think id like to wait on.

 

[ViviTheMage]

Well, maybe they'll go IPS and skip 'retina'?

 

[Eug]

Every time I upgrade, I get support from my work expense account, so in the end I actually don't lose money by upgrading.

So why don't I do it every year?

1) I don't want to abuse my privileges.
2) There's the aggravation factor. Selling these things on Kijiji is annoying, so if I don't really need the upgrade I don't bother.

The last big upgrade for my laptop was simply to put a 128 GB SSD in it. Now this 2009 Core 2 Duo flies. The only way I'd upgrade is if I could get a lighter 13" MacBook Pro with 1280x800 screen, preferably matte. I prefer lower pixel densities over the high pixel densities of the Airs.

Oh and it'd have to come with USB 3 too.