When Should I Replace My Mac?

Charlie Ruggiero - 2001.03.12

Q: When should I replace my Mac.

A: The first rule in replacing your computer is to not listen to hype from Apple or anyone else. If all you do is word processing, and you still use Word 4 or Word 5 or even something like Write Now on your old Quadra 610, then why upgrade? The program does not expire, and, if you treat you computer right, it will last a long time. There is no reason you need a "70s iMac;" those flowers do nothing for your word processing except maybe inspire you to write. (If that's the case, go buy some flowers!)

Every computer manufacturer wants you to think that the computer you own does not do everything you want it to. The truth is that your computer probably can do almost everything you want it to do, but it might do it slower. The question then becomes do you really want to spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars to get a little extra speed?

A 68030-based Mac can burn CDs, surf the Internet, check email, do word processing, compose music, run MIDI keyboards and other devices, scan photos, run paint programs, play a multitude of games, as well as do many other tasks. I actually did not realize that older Macs could do such a vast number of things until my StarMax 3000 was hit by lightening, and I had to go back to a Macintosh IIx while I waited for a replacement. I also had to test out my equipment that was attached, and I was surprised to find that a version of Toast (CD burning software) ran on the IIx, as well as the scanner software. Even if the latest software won't run, you can usually find older versions that will, and often at a discount.

The second rule is to avoid upgrading your Mac for just one reason. If you work with Photoshop or video editing software, you probably have no choice. The speed benefits are enormous with a new Mac, and if your job depends on these applications, you will have a good reason to upgrade.

Others should think long and hard about upgrading for things like the ability to play MP3s, play current games, or use the latest version of Microsoft Word. It would be great if all those worked with your current Mac, but are they really so important that you want to spend a hundreds or thousands of dollars to upgrade? Keep in mind what you do most on the computer. If you spend 90 percent of your time word processing and 10 percent playing games, the benefit of upgrading for the games is not that great.

Third rule is don't upgrade to a Windows PC because it costs less. It may sound like propaganda, but if you had a Mac for the last 5 to 10 years and you really liked (or even loved) using it, then you are not going to like switching to a Windows machine. Yes, you may be able to get used to it, and they are disgustingly cheap, but you get what you pay for. You will be missing the quality, ease of use, and a pretty good community of computer users.

I work in an environment where people are constantly switching from Mac to PC, and PC to Mac. People who have used Macs for a long time and then switch to PCs are often very disappointed with the Windows environment. There are exceptions. If you hate your Mac, and it just seems to have a stupid interface (believe me sometimes I find certain things in Mac OS annoying), and you just can't get along with it, maybe a Windows machine will be better. Be careful, though - if you don't like the Mac interface, you may not like the Windows interface either.

Finally, why you should get a new Mac. If you have a Power Mac that is newer than a Power Mac 7200 and the Mac has a problem (such as lightening hits it, the processor fried, or some similar major problem), before you fix it make sure that there isn't some way you can get more power and features for just a little more than the cost of fixing the old Mac. You do not want to spend $500-1000 fixing a Mac when you can get a used iMac for $600-800 or a used Power Mac G4 for $1000-1300.

Another reason to upgrade has to do with compatibility with your coworkers and friends. If you are constantly receiving Word files from a higher version, it is a pain to tell people to save down to your Word version. Upgrading to the point where you can run a Word version that can read their documents will make your life smoother.

Graphic design, video editors, and people who can use the extra speed to get things done much faster should always consider new machines. New software in your field often has new features which make your job easier or allows you to be more diverse (thus making you a more valuable employee or company).

Why I upgrade to the latest and greatest: Because I do both video editing and computer graphic design. Video editing software has taken incredible jumps in just this last two years, and the new Macs are minuscule in price compared to the professional video editing systems from a few years back.

I also upgrade because I am a technology freak. Avoid becoming one; it's very expensive.

Before upgrading be sure to measure the price in comparison with the benefit, and you will usually come up with the right answer.

Charlie Ruggiero has used a lot of Macs, from Plus to G4, and even ran a BBS (remember those?) on a Plus. He works as Macintosh tech support and technology advisor for the College of Education at Michigan State University. He does a lot of hardware and software troubleshooting, as well as a great deal of video editing, capture, and streaming. Charlie is well versed in HyperCard, fairly knowledgeable in Future Basic, and has a good background in sound and video. He even has his own site, Edge of Heaven.