Microsoft

Why r/BuyItForLife recommends Microsoft

66 mentions from real owners

• #1Dec 28, 2025

  What brands/products do you AVOID because of their poor longevity?

  Last time I tried to use a Logitech product, it wouldn't work unless I installed their driver and agent. I noped right out of that shit and went back to my 25 year old Microsoft laser trackball.

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• #2Dec 27, 2025

  What digital services do you have lifetime subscription for?

  Microsoft office, plex, curiosity stream, Magellan tv, vpns, babel and other language programs, those are probably  my top ones I actually  use

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• #3Sep 7, 2025

  This mouse is older than me, and it's still working as well as the day it left the factory.

  Yep, I've got one of those, has last for many years - best Microsoft product ever!

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• #4Sep 6, 2025

  This mouse is older than me, and it's still working as well as the day it left the factory.

  Glad to see these still en service. I moved to a IE 3.0, when moving from a ball mouse :)

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• #5Sep 6, 2025

  This mouse is older than me, and it's still working as well as the day it left the factory.

  they dont make em like that any more

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• #6Sep 6, 2025

  This mouse is older than me, and it's still working as well as the day it left the factory.

  Mine's the black-and-silver version (which I must say has visually aged much better than the white) and, yeah, it still works like a charm every time I pick it up.

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• #7Sep 6, 2025

  This mouse is older than me, and it's still working as well as the day it left the factory.

  My best mouse, my only Microsoft product.

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• #8Sep 6, 2025

  This mouse is older than me, and it's still working as well as the day it left the factory.

  Best gaming mouse I ever had.

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• #9Sep 6, 2025

  6 years on one mouse, that’s BIFL right?

  Not quite dude. I still have my original Microsoft Intellimouse Explorer from 1999. It's my daily driver on WFH days. We've seen some things.

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• #10Sep 5, 2025

  This mouse is older than me, and it's still working as well as the day it left the factory.

  I'm using mine brought brand new that I bought I think 25 years ago. There are two spares in a drawer a few feet to my left. The PS/2 adapter is downstairs in the just-in-case-I-need-this-connector bin (along with the purple keyboard one).

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• #11Sep 5, 2025

  This mouse is older than me, and it's still working as well as the day it left the factory.

  This was literally one of the best mice for gaming. As the comment below this chain points out, it was used in competitive gaming before there were "gaming" peripherals.  If it skipped it was because you were using a bad mousepad, or you had a defective mouse. https://www.reddit.com/r/BuyItForLife/comments/1n8jnwj/comment/ncfva3n/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=mweb3x&utm_name=mweb3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

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• #12Sep 5, 2025

  This mouse is older than me, and it's still working as well as the day it left the factory.

  Reasonable assumption to make, considering (as far as I know) the only real way the performance could degrade was if the LED or light sensor started failing, which they haven't.

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• #13Sep 5, 2025

  This mouse is older than me, and it's still working as well as the day it left the factory.

  It definitely yellowed a bit. I use it primarily for older computers since it just works.

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• #14Sep 5, 2025

  This mouse is older than me, and it's still working as well as the day it left the factory.

  It's crazy that the older laser mice work so much better than the ones they make today. Enshitification at the industry level.

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• #15Sep 5, 2025

  This mouse is older than me, and it's still working as well as the day it left the factory.

  I have three of these! What a mouse to play CS 1.6! I remember the 1.1 and the 3.0 which felt huge to my hands.

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• #16Sep 5, 2025

  This mouse is older than me, and it's still working as well as the day it left the factory.

  I remember using those accessories back in the day. I had a silver one and overtime the silver rubbed away but it worked flawlessly (as did the matching keyboards). Very nice!

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• #17Sep 5, 2025

  This mouse is older than me, and it's still working as well as the day it left the factory.

  I had a couple of those back in the early 2000s. Fantastic mouse.

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• #18Sep 5, 2025

  This mouse is older than me, and it's still working as well as the day it left the factory.

  Still one one, used it when I was a teen. And yes, you can plug it in to any modern computer with a USB-A socket, works "great."

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• #19Sep 5, 2025

  This mouse is older than me, and it's still working as well as the day it left the factory.

  Yep, this thing is a tank. They don't make them like this anymore.

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• #20Sep 5, 2025

  This mouse is older than me, and it's still working as well as the day it left the factory.

  https://imgur.com/a/uqF9sKY I’m still using one everyday.

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• #21Sep 5, 2025

  This mouse is older than me, and it's still working as well as the day it left the factory.

  I have it somewhere and is still working too!

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• #22Sep 5, 2025

  This mouse is older than me, and it's still working as well as the day it left the factory.

  This… is still my mouse at work. And it works as well as the first day I used it. I’ve gone through millions of dollars of hardware over my 21 year career, decommissioned generations of clustered data centers, but I still use this despite having an IT department with a literal vending machine filled with free mice and other peripherals.

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• #23Sep 5, 2025

  This mouse is older than me, and it's still working as well as the day it left the factory.

  I finally upgraded and gave mine away. The good news, it's the updated intellimouse pro.

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• #24Sep 5, 2025

  This mouse is older than me, and it's still working as well as the day it left the factory.

  I have this one! Works great

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• #25Sep 4, 2025

  This mouse is older than me, and it's still working as well as the day it left the factory.

  hold that baby right. Those MS mouses were the best

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• #26Sep 4, 2025

  This mouse is older than me, and it's still working as well as the day it left the factory.

  I remember that mouse very well! Early 2000s PC gaming and those were highly favored. I believe it was called the intellimouse explorer.

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• #27Sep 4, 2025

  This mouse is older than me, and it's still working as well as the day it left the factory.

  I do like how it has mouse4 and mouse5, very useful for when I'm playing Minecraft.

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• #28Sep 4, 2025

  This mouse is older than me, and it's still working as well as the day it left the factory.

  I think I still have that mouse, worked last time I saw it. (switched over to a modern mouse - the microsoft one was working perfectly, just wanted more buttons and a contoured grip)

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• #29Sep 4, 2025

  This mouse is older than me, and it's still working as well as the day it left the factory.

  I replaced mine last year after about 20 years od use

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• #30Sep 4, 2025

  This mouse is older than me, and it's still working as well as the day it left the factory.

  I used to have that mouse. It worked so well.

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• #31Sep 4, 2025

  This mouse is older than me, and it's still working as well as the day it left the factory.

  I think this was the mouse my friends and I had. We took a piece out in the scroll wheel and it enabled the scroll to be insanely fast. I miss that mouse.

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• #32Sep 4, 2025

  This mouse is older than me, and it's still working as well as the day it left the factory.

  Oh my god, I wrote my first blog post praising this rodent (as I called it so "cleverly"). I was just so excited about not having to clean the roller on my ball mouse anymore! Ambidextrous as well, with a mouse wheel to boot. Mine never got to that colour though and I gave it away along my old PC...

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• #33Sep 4, 2025

  This mouse is older than me, and it's still working as well as the day it left the factory.

  it was a little rough for gaming, because fast movements could cause it to "skip" and get stuck for a bit. but I learned to deal with it regardless because it was so much better than ball mice

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• #34Sep 4, 2025

  This mouse is older than me, and it's still working as well as the day it left the factory.

  That mouse was quite common back on the Counter strike 00s competitive scene

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• #35Sep 4, 2025

  This mouse is older than me, and it's still working as well as the day it left the factory.

  One of these was my gaming mouse for about 6 years.

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• #36Sep 4, 2025

  This mouse is older than me, and it's still working as well as the day it left the factory.

  I have one of these... I got it used for like $1.00 from a thrift store, and put it in my classroom for kids who forget to bring their mouse to use when we are working on CAD. It works better than most of the newer ones I have and has continued to function in the hands of teenagers for the last 3 years. They really don't build them like they used to.

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• #37Sep 4, 2025

  This mouse is older than me, and it's still working as well as the day it left the factory.

  Looks like 1.1a mouse. Amazing device!

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• #38Sep 4, 2025

  This mouse is older than me, and it's still working as well as the day it left the factory.

  I had that mouse back in the day (wish I still did) and maintain that it was the best mouse I ever used

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• #39Sep 4, 2025

  This mouse is older than me, and it's still working as well as the day it left the factory.

  I’m very still got mine (bought in ‘99-ish), and use it as a back-up.

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• #40Sep 4, 2025

  This mouse is older than me, and it's still working as well as the day it left the factory.

  I have that mouse! Still works too.

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• #41Sep 4, 2025

  What product would you seriously stockpile if you found out they weren't going to sell it anymore?

  Prestige liquid eyeliner Missha soft finish sunscreen Sodastreams/co2 bottles Thinx Period Panties Microsoft Sculpt Keyboard (I know because they DON’T sell them anymore and they. were. perfect.) Zojirushi Coffee/Tea Tumblers Miir Insulated Camping Mugs Tom’s Majorca Cutout Heels + Jutti Flats Nike Flex Sneakers Tesla/Rivian Kongs (for my dog) Bare Minerals Foundation Open Farms Rawmix Dog Food Pronamel Toothpaste Flamingo at-home Waxing Strips Clorox Wipes This isn’t exactly buy it for life. Some items I have I wouldn’t stockpile because I only need one. My favorite toothbrush for instance. I find that things that touch my body or my food tend to be products I select carefully and then am fanatically loyal to, so I would be most stressed if my cosmetics, underclothes etc were discontinued. But these are high quality, long duration consumable items that would make me panic if I could no longer find them when I went to get a new one. Hope some of these help!

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• #42Sep 4, 2025

  What product would you seriously stockpile if you found out they weren't going to sell it anymore?

  ipods, sandisk sansa that has option to roxbox, xbox 360 controller, philips she3595, honda cg125, yamaha ybr 125

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• #43Sep 3, 2025

  What is the best application you have purchased with a one-time payment?

  Microsoft office suite. I think my copy is like 2018 or something like that. I absolutely love excel. Kind of odd, but it makes it really easy for me to track finances, can build whatever formulas I want to track anything Like one of my jobs is tree planting, pay by the tree. I need to keep track of production to verify my pay. Simply inputting numbers into every day calculates my weekly average, shift running total, season running total, career running total (was gunning for a million trees, seeing that number creeping up was motivating.) Adding in the price does all of those things, but calculated hourly wage, weeks wages, contract earnings, etc. Can go back season to season and see how my earnings changed. Took a few hours to set up, but 15 seconds a day to input those numbers. More actual fun ones would be affinity photo. Just a solid photo editor. Not quite on par with lightroom/photoshop, but pretty close. Sadly they did make a version 2.0, so while I could have kept the old version I did buy the new one (still, one paid update in almost a decade or so)

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• #44Sep 2, 2025

  What is the best application you have purchased with a one-time payment?

  [PowerToys](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/powertoys/install) might fit that bill.

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• #45May 11, 2025

  Best laptop currently?

  The Microsoft Surface Laptops are very well built.

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• #46May 10, 2025

  Buy it for life digital products?

  Microsoft Office standalone suite. I got 2016 that is still relevant to me today.

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• #47May 5, 2025

  Need college laptop recommendation

  I really recommend having a home desktop too, but yeah you need a laptop. Get a Microsoft surface pro laptop or a MacBook both are great

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• #48Apr 9, 2025

  Items that made your life so much easier/saved time?

  Game changer for me. I had all kinds of wrist and shoulder pain, as a result of 15 years in IT. Switched to a vertical mouse (Logitech) and natural keyboard (Microsoft), and the pain was gone in a matter of days.

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• #49Apr 4, 2025

  BIFL - a mouse! What's a high quality mouse I can buy?

  Microsoft intelimouse pro

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• #50Apr 3, 2025

  BIFL - a mouse! What's a high quality mouse I can buy?

  Microsoft Intellimouse - I only replace them because I want the plastic to look nicer

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• #51Mar 10, 2025

  what are your BIFL ADHD products that make life easier?

  For me, I had a lot of issues with multiple to-do lists everywhere. My job uses Microsoft Office products, so I started using Microsoft To-Do. I have it on my phone, my tablet, and use it on my PCs. That's a big help to me, especially since when you build your day it'll suggest things from the day before that didn't get completed. It's not perfect, but it helps me. You've probably already developed a lot of coping mechanisms to get you through life so far. My suggestion is to try not to change things overnight, and assess what works and what doesn't. Whatever you try, keep in mind that the change in routine is really frustrating, but working it into your routine can be helpful. Windows and Android both have some type of Focus Mode that will help with limiting distractions. I think on Android there's something you can limit your time on an app, if you find yourself hyperfocusing on something like social media or some kind of game. Those features didn't work for me but did for my wife. Lots of other good reccs in the thread -- good luck!

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• #52Mar 9, 2025

  Need to replace my mouse!

  you can get an open box MS Mouse 4000 on eBay for less than $50 in basically perfect condition if it were me i'd just get another one of those mice if you got almost 20 years out of it

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• #53Mar 8, 2025

  Need to replace my mouse!

  This really is a BIFL product, or it least it could be. I bought this mouse around 06-07, I believe. Lasted DECADES. The mouse itself is running, but the scroll wheel is going out. The rubber basically disintegrated and the wheel stopped functioning well after that. But this is the perfect mouse. Microsoft does not make what I want and Logitech doesn't seem too great either. I tried switching to the Apple Magic Mouse too. It wasn't the same. Here's what I NEED: * It has GOT to be ambidextrous. I mouse with my left hand. * It CANNOT be rechargable. I tried rechargeable. No. When it needs a top up, I can't stop my work for a couple hours. If the battery goes, I'll pop in a new one. Its been awhile since I used a corded one, but I'm not opposed if everything else is good. Here's what I WANT: * RF controlled. I used the bluetooth with the Magic Mouse and the responsiveness just wasn't the same. Again, corded may solve it, but I'm holding out for RF if available. * It does not need to be a "gaming" mouse. I game on a different machine. It has to last! Price is not a factor if other criteria are met. Thanks!

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• #54Feb 9, 2025

  What is the best laptop brand for long term use?

  I used to agree lenovo was the way to go, but we got them for work and mine full on bricked in 1.5 years after non stop problems and blue screens. Spent hours on tech support and nothing really ever changed. The dock system was also terrible and constantly failed. I've had a higher model surface since and its run perfectly so far.

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• #55Feb 9, 2025

  What is the best laptop brand for long term use?

  Depends on your needs but we have 3 surfaces in our home- the oldest one has been used by my 23 yo daughter since 6th grade and she still loves it.

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• #56Feb 9, 2025

  What is the best laptop brand for long term use?

  My surface pro 3 is still kicking from 2014. Battery life is about an hour now, but that's to be expected with a 10 year old device.

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• #57Feb 9, 2025

  What is the best laptop brand for long term use?

  MICROSOFT Surface 7 Laptop, I really recommend this for office work, excellent machine,

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• #58Feb 9, 2025

  What is the best laptop brand for long term use?

  Kind of depends. Surface laptops e.g. have good repairability these days with Microsoft offering parts via ifixit. That's a big plus.

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• #59Feb 9, 2025

  What is the best laptop brand for long term use?

  I use Microsoft Surface Laptops in work, they are standard issue. We got them in 2019 and are still excellent laptops. The build quality is great, typing experience as well, overall an excellent laptop for all but the most intensive tasks. The laptop market is very mature, changes hardly anything at all year to year so a heavily discounted 1-2 year old Microsoft Surface laptop would be an excellent choice. As for gaming, If it’s not gaming on the go get yourself a second hand Xbox Series X. Sometimes having dedicated devices rather than one compromised device gives you a better overall experience.

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• #60Feb 9, 2025

  What is the best laptop brand for long term use?

  Lenovo has been my go to for 12 years. Before that it was sony. The Microsoft surface line lasts, it just isn't repairable other than HD swap.

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• #61Feb 9, 2025

  What is the best laptop brand for long term use?

  Microsoft surface

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• #62Feb 9, 2025

  What is the best laptop brand for long term use?

  Old thinkpad or an M series MacBook Air/pro.

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• #63Feb 9, 2025

  What is the best laptop brand for long term use?

  Surface. My dad has had his for 5 years now and still going strong.

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• #64Feb 9, 2025

  What is the best laptop brand for long term use?

  Best: Apple MacBook Best Windows: Microsoft Surface? Best Repairable: Framework

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• #65Dec 5, 2015

  [Request] Consumer-Grade (not military spec) Laptop with the longest lasting hardware/hinges

  I was looking at the Surface Book, hinges look awesome. The 4 doesn't appeal to me. I want hinges on the Laptop. I just want them to be good. I want to be able to have the laptop stay in multiple positions and sit up on its own without an extra stand.

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• #66Dec 5, 2015

  [Request] Consumer-Grade (not military spec) Laptop with the longest lasting hardware/hinges

  Hell even I have to agree and I hate windows. I'm in computer engineering and we were issued these Surface things, I hated it at first but now, especially with VDI, I sort of prefer it. Lightning fast and all the corporate stuff work very well. As someone who makes his money outside the windows world, I have to give credit where it is due. MS did a good job here. However it is not tough, just has less part to break. It is a tablet, albeit a good one. Back when we got dirty, we had basically three laptops we gave out to field staff. These were not IT people. These were land surveyors, farmers, mountaineers, and other outdoor people. We had a thin Fuji, Lenovo X (with the tilting screen), and toughbooks. The Levovos always performed the worst. THere was nothong particularly wrong with the Fuji, but screens broke and water and dust got in everywhere. Panasonic has rubber gussets to cover ports and the hinge is very well made. For a laptop that claims to be tough it is also fairly responsive and has a decent display. At home, the laptop I have had for about 4-5 years now, with a bend in the aluminum frame from a drop is a metal HP elitebook. I absolutely love it. It is very well made, top spec for the time, and can take a beating. I take it on the road, bang it in airports, and generally treat it with no respect. It is fine. Also runs Debian without any issues, which I need for work. If you are not going to be killing it in a swamp, I highly recommend it. (I have the hp elitebook 8460p kind of crappy screen in that model but I needed it for work)

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