Is That Old Clunker Ready For The Scrap Heap?

"An increasing number of enthusiasts are likely wondering whether their systems are still fast enough, or if it makes sense to invest in an upgrade heading into the holiday season. Many people jumped on the Athlon 64 or Athlon 64 X2 because of great performance and strong overall value in the first half of the last decade. "

It is easy getting caught up in the race for the fastest computer on the block.  What was peppy and powerful one day quickly becomes old and sluggish the next.  That does not seem to be the case so much anymore these days as computers, even three years old, are plenty powerful for today's applications.  I just hope those that do upgrade find good homes for their old friends.  For years now, we have had incredible computing power, much of which holds up against everyday needs.  I can remember years back, a hand-me-down computer that was three years old at the turn of the decade, or even in the 90s would have problems keeping up with what was demanded of it.  Now, people work well with computers that are much older than 3 years.  Since I work with technology, what I use in my office is a mishmash of things new and old.  Owing to budgetary constraints, I rarely have anything that is bleeding edge, and I do admit to having some things that I use which are approaching a decade in age.  What about you?  How old is your gear?  Does it still fulfill your needs?