As they get full. Just kidding:-) But seriously, to answer the OP's question, I personally wil keep a hard drive for around 2-3 years depending on the brand. When I stop using a hard drive, I put it in an enclosure and sell it on ebay, or if it is a big drive I use it for a gaming console (ps2 + HDAdvance + flip top lid = good times) or to give to friends as gifts.
Still, like it has been mentioned, there is no set time really...a hard drive can last 10 years, or 10 days.
I don't even KNOW you, man. Like I said in my other reply, are people so full of themselves that they don't realize that *gasp* THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE OTHER THAN YOU????
DR-DOS...that's funny, because even though it wasen't made by microsoft...it has the name of the very operating system that got microsoft a jump start right in it's name...
Beyond all that, the mere fact that you got so personal about such a generalized statement...*we* refers to the general market...between that and your uncalled for insult, I can only assume your ego has reached a point where it's eating itself.
do people so easily forget that they are not the only people that "we the consumers" refer to? PC Makers adopted windows because it sold well and because it was becomming "the standard." average consumers (yes, people other than you exist in this world) decided that using windows was easiest and went with it.
How is it ignorant to say that a company got a vast portion of market share from the vast portion of that market buying it's product? If alot of people buy your product...you get market penetration. If over 90% of that market buys your product...you get deep market penetration. Again, where is the ignorance in that statement?
You are forgetting one thing.
We the consumers created that monopoly, not microsoft. And why did we create that monopoly? Because they produce relatively easy to use, readily available software. It isn't like there aren't other choices out there...why don't you ask mcafee and norton and those folks to stop bitching about microsoft and release some good shit for linux? Or mac? The reason so much software is available for windows is because *gasp* market penetration. And guess what?
As long as windows has the most software available for it, that is what will be used most.
It isn't like microsoft MADE itself a monopoly. We the consumers did. Why should Microsoft (or any company for that matter) have to hand over its "secrets" simply because their method works better than anyone elses? And thats the funny thing...IT DOESN'T!!! As fantastically complicated vista and etc. is/will be, it isn't like they have the only brains in the world...So, what, now I have to pay fines because my idea was better than everyone elses idea?
Isn't that what the goal of buisness is? To have an idea that works better than everyone else? Why don't these security companies that are bitching give a big f.u. to microsoft and build their OWN operating system. Oh that's right, I forgot. That would be too much work and too much risk. Boo fuckin' hoo.
but I love having gaming mags laying around...granted, I go online to see videos and such, but while waiting for a Washington Caps game to start or while in the bathroom, gaming mags are fantastic...I've had a constant subscription to at LEAST 2 gaming mags at all times since Nintendo Power first came on to the scene...I should go back and read some of those, the old school Power mags were awesome...
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As they get full. Just kidding:-) But seriously, to answer the OP's question, I personally wil keep a hard drive for around 2-3 years depending on the brand. When I stop using a hard drive, I put it in an enclosure and sell it on ebay, or if it is a big drive I use it for a gaming console (ps2 + HDAdvance + flip top lid = good times) or to give to friends as gifts. Still, like it has been mentioned, there is no set time really...a hard drive can last 10 years, or 10 days.
I don't even KNOW you, man. Like I said in my other reply, are people so full of themselves that they don't realize that *gasp* THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE OTHER THAN YOU???? DR-DOS...that's funny, because even though it wasen't made by microsoft...it has the name of the very operating system that got microsoft a jump start right in it's name... Beyond all that, the mere fact that you got so personal about such a generalized statement...*we* refers to the general market...between that and your uncalled for insult, I can only assume your ego has reached a point where it's eating itself.
do people so easily forget that they are not the only people that "we the consumers" refer to? PC Makers adopted windows because it sold well and because it was becomming "the standard." average consumers (yes, people other than you exist in this world) decided that using windows was easiest and went with it. How is it ignorant to say that a company got a vast portion of market share from the vast portion of that market buying it's product? If alot of people buy your product...you get market penetration. If over 90% of that market buys your product...you get deep market penetration. Again, where is the ignorance in that statement?
You are forgetting one thing. We the consumers created that monopoly, not microsoft. And why did we create that monopoly? Because they produce relatively easy to use, readily available software. It isn't like there aren't other choices out there...why don't you ask mcafee and norton and those folks to stop bitching about microsoft and release some good shit for linux? Or mac? The reason so much software is available for windows is because *gasp* market penetration. And guess what? As long as windows has the most software available for it, that is what will be used most.
It isn't like microsoft MADE itself a monopoly. We the consumers did. Why should Microsoft (or any company for that matter) have to hand over its "secrets" simply because their method works better than anyone elses? And thats the funny thing...IT DOESN'T!!! As fantastically complicated vista and etc. is/will be, it isn't like they have the only brains in the world...So, what, now I have to pay fines because my idea was better than everyone elses idea? Isn't that what the goal of buisness is? To have an idea that works better than everyone else? Why don't these security companies that are bitching give a big f.u. to microsoft and build their OWN operating system. Oh that's right, I forgot. That would be too much work and too much risk. Boo fuckin' hoo.
but I love having gaming mags laying around...granted, I go online to see videos and such, but while waiting for a Washington Caps game to start or while in the bathroom, gaming mags are fantastic...I've had a constant subscription to at LEAST 2 gaming mags at all times since Nintendo Power first came on to the scene...I should go back and read some of those, the old school Power mags were awesome...