If it is a 64 bit processor and OS, then it’ll last for awhile still, and be bottlenecked by ram usually.

Laptop life times usually is set by its fans and cooling systems.

If it is 32 bit OS, then as years go on, people will see more and more programs become incompatible. Leading edge game software no longer supports 32 bit, since it is obsolete tech. Mobile games? That doesn’t need much power.

People can probably buy old keyboards from Ebay, since there would be a lot of stock left over from people who bought and sold computers. There’s still a light grey market in old computer parts, although it is not nearly as lightning in demand as first, second, and third gen parts (as measured backwards in time rather than forwards).

There’s so many generations of Nvidia and Radeon, AMD vs intel chips, that it is just easier to count backwards now in terms of generation.

I think all the pre 2008 pc keyboards used to be like that

Exactly. Gamer keyboards are not the same, but at least they’re the closest thing to old pc keyboards I’ve found.

The vactuum cleaner might work really well with cpu coolers too now that I think of it.

It works well, just don’t use it with an open CPU. The nozzle uses to push forwards, so better keep the case closed and aspire through the lateral holes.

They are only effective for white dust not black congealed dust. Black congealed dust is more like tar than dust.

I would do what Yann did, put a vacuum cleaner and attach a thin plastic pipe to it so that it can focus the force on the components.

The M and N is usually due to the nails on the thumb or index brushing up against it. Or maybe the letter print is imprinted using cheaper materials now.

Partitions are good for things such as formatting your OS partition to get rid of a virus while leaving the rest of the data alone. If however the damage reaches the partition tables, and the secondary partition becomes unreadable or the primary unbootable, then recovery requires one of those Magic Boot OS discs. It’s still a pain and not 100% safe.

That’s why I don’t partition my drives any more. I can just use a Magic Boot OS to access the data if the OS ever cranks out and refuses to boot up. As people realized with the IRS and Clinton hard drives, it takes quite a lot of damage to make data unrecoverable to modern drives.

Laptops can use external keyboards, mouse, and monitors now. So it might as well be one of those MINI computer boxes the size of 3 lunch boxes stacked on top of each other. Next step up is the case size I use, Micro.

And get a keyboard with some hard/mechanical touch feeling. I always go to the gamer section (best ones use to be there).

I think all the pre 2008 pc keyboards used to be like that, as that is the only stuff I ever got from pre built pc companies. Laptops I notice have silent keys, which removes that feedback system so important to human hand manipulation.

The vactuum cleaner might work really well with cpu coolers too now that I think of it.

Google up “cleaning your keyboard using a dishwasher”. It works, and amazingly well, but follow the instructions not to add any detergent, not to use any forced heat, and thence to let the thing air dry for several days before plugging it back into your computer. But this method is not, repeat not, repeat not for laptops!

For laptops, best cleaning method is the standard vacuum cleaner. I’ve always used the same one I use to clean the floor and never had a problem (just clean a bit the floor nozzle before using it with the laptop).

And get a keyboard with some hard/mechanical touch feeling. I always go to the gamer section (best ones use to be there). And once you get used to a good keyboard, you can notice the difference every time you use the laptop one.

Also if that is you with the 2TB drive in three volumes, all of your eggs are still in one basket. 3x1TB drives could at least give you one basket each for photos, Documents and Time Machine. Better still would be a NAS with raid.

2 Terrabyte external drive formatted into three virtual drives. 1 for photos, 1 for documents, and1 forTime Machine.