Treat your laptop right and it may last a long time.
Laptops allow you to take your computer with you, enabling you to surf the Internet, scope out videos, blast your way through video games and more wherever you may go. However, laptops are not designed to last forever, so you will eventually have to replace your machine. The average lifespan of a laptop is hard to determine, but is typically longer if you follow certain good practices and treat your machine right.
Average
The lifespan of a laptop depends on a variety of factors, and determining an average can be difficult. Laptops are designed to be carried around, and this excessive movement can cause damages within the device which do not typically occur within desktop computers, unless you frequently move your desktop computer around. According to Sbinc.com, an IT company, the average lifespan of a laptop computer is three to five years. However, this doesn't mean that laptops cannot last past five years, or are guaranteed to last at least three years.
Usage
If you only use your laptop for simple chores -- such as composing documents and checking your email -- you cause less wear and tear on the device's hard drive. However, if you play hours of video games per day, watch many videos and/or use your laptop to edit media projects, the hard drive will start to wear down sooner rather than later.
Warranty
One way to protect yourself against laptop failure is to obtain a warranty for the device. If you buy a used laptop, odds are it will not have a warranty. A new laptop, however, should have a warranty which covers the device for a specific amount of time. Make sure to keep your warranty paperwork in a safe place -- such as a filing cabinet -- in case problems arise. Consider purchasing an extended warranty, and always be aware of what exactly the warranty protects. For example, if you try to fix your laptop on your own and cause more damage to it, the warranty may become void. According to CNET.com, the industry standard for a laptop warranty is one year. The Apple PowerBook G4 comes with a one-year warranty as well as a 90-day policy. However, tech support policies can vary. For example, HP laptops come with a one-year tech support policy, far greater than the 90-day policy offered by Apple.
Battery and Other Factors
If possible, connect your laptop to a wall outlet to preserve the life of the battery within the device. Limit the amount of external devices -- such as iPods and PC cards -- that you plug into your laptop as these devices drain your battery. Limit the brightness on the laptop monitor to save battery power. Turn the laptop off or place it into hibernation when not in use instead of sleep mode, which drains more power. Protect your laptop against viruses by installing antivirus software. Be weary of strange emails with links attached, as these can contain viruses that can ultimately kill your laptop.
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