Shadoe Huard:

Purchasing the best computer you could afford made sense 10 years ago, when your computer became obsolete and underpowered almost the minute your bought it.

During the "clock speed race" I was upgrading the components constantly on my workhorse. New processors, more ram, graphic cards, etc., ad nauseum. My current go-to laptop is a dirty, grungy, white Macbook I bought in the summer of 2007. A four year old laptop that is still capable enough to be used for serious work, 8 years ago my head would have exploded at the prospect.