> "You could keep systems usable for 10+ years this way"
Every custom PC maker friend keeps telling me that but realistically - have anybody ever used the "upgraded" pc for 10+ years? By the time the cpu needs an upgrade - there is a new motherboard needed and your case and power supply also becomes obsolete, never mind graphics card, so you end up getting a whole new pc instead.
> your case and power supply also becomes obsolete
I've never found this to be the case, maybe it's because I try not to skimp on power supplies during my initial build. The last time I upgraded my CPU/mobo, I didn't change my case, power supply, video card, RAM, SSD, disk drives, sound card, SATA cables, or network card. Plenty of my "old" computer still works just fine.
I don't think it's just a static set, eg. use the PC for 10 years with completely upgradeable components or it's not worth it.
I purchased my current PC case/graphics card, cpu and motherboard 5 years ago, have replaced the CPU cooler, and the SSD drives and added an audio card, upgraded the RAM and added an extra HDD.
I think part of the problem is that despite smartphones being similar to desktops, they're not the same at all and have complementary but ultimately different purposes. One is suited to being upgradeable, the other isn't.
No, I've had laptops and it's annoying not being able to fix or upgrade anything. In the last 10 years I've had a gaming laptop that I had to replace because just disassembling it was a several hour ordeal. It was a fairly simple fan/heatsink issue but asus support is completely useless. Now on the replacement the wireless card has crapped out but I can't replace that.
They are gaming laptops too, a 5 year old one would be just fine with an upgrade to the video card. Lesson learned though, when the current one get's replaced it will probably be with something more modular.
I'm using the same PC I built in 2008. Of course, the only parts I haven't replaced are the Hard Drive, the CPU, the case and the power supply (and I've added several plenty extra storage). I will probably replace the CPU this year as it's beggining to show it's age. This is my main computer and I use it for several hours every day. 10 years does not seem crazy to me.
I think that was the case in the past, to a large degree.
But with desktop PC technology largely plateauing technology wise, I think this scenario is becoming more and more realistic. As long as the desktop market hangs on long enough for parts to be available, that is.
Every custom PC maker friend keeps telling me that but realistically - have anybody ever used the "upgraded" pc for 10+ years? By the time the cpu needs an upgrade - there is a new motherboard needed and your case and power supply also becomes obsolete, never mind graphics card, so you end up getting a whole new pc instead.