Established wisdom says that you get more computer for your money the longer you leave it. But is now a good time to buy a computer? How can anyone ever tell?

Many of this week’s replies cast doubt on whether it’s ever a good time to buy a new computer; and recommend staving off the inevitable for as long as possible. “As with dishwasher tablets,” begins Catherine Mellor, cryptically, “there’s always a new gimmick that we supposedly can’t live without. But if your current system does what you want, why bother?” Mat Bowles agrees. “I’ve got a PC that was bought for £500 in 1999. I can manage websites, my office software works fine – what more do I need?” So the trigger for most people to purchase a new system seems to be the death-rattle of their existing machine. “I’ll only buy if my computer becomes unusable,” says Holly Gramazio. “It took six months to start overheating; I’m expecting it to catch fire around September.”

If you crave an additional surge of computing power you could soup up your existing machine with add-ons, including extra memory: “You can save money and often get a better quality computer by buying your own components,” says Matt C. Some readers have, over time, constructed the equivalent of a Hollywood star after successive bouts of plastic surgery: significantly improved results, and barely anything left of the original incarnation. But the lure of a shiny new toy can prove irresistable; an ex-boss of mine would pay a premium for amazing new systems as soon as they were launched, despite the fact that all he used them for was sending email and tweaking spreadsheets. One anonymous reader warns against the lurid offers in computer magazines, however. “Those ‘Price Crash’ headlines are rubbish,” he says. “If you compare specifications carefully, the cut price is what you’d pay for any comparable system.” In addition, the fiercely competitive world of technology means that, for power users and gaming obsessives, there’s very rarely an optimum time to splash out. Prices may fall, but the cost of remaining cutting edge stays fairly stable.

Some readers, however, are already planning their next purchase. “I’d buy just before the next Windows release,” says Sarah Heenan. “Shops will be trying to get rid of stock – I once got £1200 of computer for £600 this way.” However, Mark Anderson from support specialists Somura says that there’s little point hanging on. “There’s always something bigger and faster around the corner, so wait until you really need a new computer, and go mid-to-low end; you’ll be able to afford to replace it sooner.” Sadly Steve’s advice comes one week late for Cath Rutter: “I just bought a stupidly expensive high-end Mac, and Apple have now brought out a new range. I’m fed up.”

Next week’s question is from Ed: “At work, we’ve recently had access to various innocuous websites banned – including personal email – with no real explanation. It’s really irritating. What’s the point?”