Mini Mac Life Expectancy?

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Anyone care to give a ballpark guess as to how long a new Mini-Mac will last until it finally dies, beyond repair.
 
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Any thing and every thing can die at any time, most times without warning. It will depend on the totality of its components and the entirety of its usage.

Typically, I can get about 7-10 years from a PC.


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pigoo3

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Anyone care to give a ballpark guess as to how long a new Mini-Mac will last until it finally dies, beyond repair.

Beyond repair is not really the lifespan number you're looking for. If taken care of (no over heating issues...keep it clean)...it could last 20 years or more.

The lifespan number you really want to know is..."useable" lifespan. The period of time (years) that the Mac-Mini is useful for everyday computing...without being too slow...macOS isn't overly outdated...can still run relatively modern apps. And even after this "everyday computing" period...it could still be useful as a backup or secondary computer for occasional computing.

I have three Apple computers from 2011 that I use everyday...and other than online gaming being a bit slow...all of them do perfectly fine for everyday computing tasks (internet surfing, email, social media, watching videos, streaming services, playing music, MS Office, etc.).

- Nick
 

Raz0rEdge

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My 2009 iMac allowed me to do everything I needed to do with it for the past year or so and then it wouldn't run some specific software I needed. However, for the general user (browsing the web, emailing, streaming videos) it's still a perfectly capable machine.

But since it was no longer doing what I needed it to do, I ended up upgrading to a 2018 Mac Mini with higher specs. I imagine that this machine will likely last me the same length of time before I'll need to upgrade again.
 
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I have a 2008 iMac running my home automation system and a Mini I bought in 2010 that is my theater server for movies and streaming. Neither are terrifically fast and neither can be updated any more, but for what they do, they just keep going and going and going.
 
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Anyone care to give a ballpark guess as to how long a new Mini-Mac will last until it finally dies, beyond repair.

It may never get to that point. Especially if you have a solid state hard drive (SSD) instead of a rotating disk hard drive. Using a UPS (uninteruptable power supply) is another thing that might help your new Mac to last indefinitely.

The limiting factor(s) will have to do with advancing technology. At some point your Mac won't be upgradeable to the latest versions of the Mac OS. And with that, you won't be able to upgrade your applications anymore. Your Web browser will likely become hopelessly outdated as Web standards advance. Newer versions of your favorite apps (or their successors) will use new and different file formats and won't be backwards compatible.

It's always sad when I hear from a users who has held onto their computer for too long, and they want to know how to translate all of their (relatively) ancient files into a format that is compatible with newer applications. Unfortunately, translators are often available only for a short time, and then the optimal window during which to move to a new file format is gone. For instance, if you were a WriteNow, or AppleWorks user, and you waited too long to get a new Mac and move away from those applications, you may have been too late to find available translators for your old files.

I used to recommend that business users plan to replace their Macs no later than after 5 years, and that home users hold on to them no longer than 7, to avoid technology creep issues. But changes in the economy, and increases in the reliability of personal computers, have home users now routinely keeping the same personal computer for a decade. But after about a decade, technology creep makes it really hard to stick with your old Mac, even if it still runs fine.
 

pigoo3

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But after about a decade, technology creep makes it really hard to stick with your old Mac, even if it still runs fine.

That's a super good estimate Randy for "useable longevity".:)

I know some folks will still keep using their Mac's longer than this (for various reasons)...but after 10 years...an Apple computer will almost definitely be "maxed out" in terms of latest macOS it can run...and most likely be 1-2 OS versions behind the latest.

Thanks,

- Nick
 
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Given the great responses from the usual gurus here I am feeling REALLY good about my 13" (late 2008) MacBook. To illustrate potential longevity of Apple computers...

I currently run IOS 10.11.6 with 8 GB of memory. I purchased the upgraded memory modules from OWC a few years (4?) ago. I should also mention that I am on my third battery. Battery number three was also from OWC since Apple stopped making my battery a few years before number two started showing its age. I just checked battery number three and its condition is "normal" after 700 (+) cycles.

This is my only computer. I am semi-retired and work part-time from home on this MacBook. My employer requires me to use Microsoft Word and Excel for my job. This MacBook in its current configuration performs as needed. However, I do get the spinning beach ball for 15-20 seconds every now and then. I do not play games or have a vast photo library on my MacBook. Ditto music. All my work is backed-up via Time Machine on an OWC external (spinning disc) HD.

My daughter's iMac has a similar story. We were forced to upgrade her to a MacBook about two years ago in order to get her through HS. I'll admit I went a little overboard when I purchased her MacBook but... She starts at Virginia Tech in the fall and her two year old MacBook exceeds the requirements for incoming freshmen.
 
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my 2007 iMac is 13 yrs old. Hard drive died about a year or less ago, but I fixed that and it's still working fine. I would think a mac mini would last just as long...
 

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