Computer Components: What really lasts?

I have repaired computers for normal everyday computer users for a very long time. I have also spent a lot of time repairing computers for a local school district. I’ve seen all major brands, and have used and repaired computers with perhiples from floppy discs and the ever-loved ZIP Drives to high-tech RAID systems.

Component failure often makes me disappointed in manufacturers of computer parts. I have found so few brands that have products that truly withstand the test of time and normal use. Every component for a computer is bound to fail at some point, and there will always be flukes that should not totally represent a given manufacturer, but why is it that in modern computing so many things fail so quickly?

Questions for comments: What components do you have that have withstood the tests of time?

Here are a few examples of my notable computers and components:
I have a IBM model PS/2 (read more, Wikipedia) (the first computer to use a PS/2 port), a significant computer in computing history. The only thing that has failed on it is the original 80MB hard drive. At that point in time, computers did come with a keyboard and monitor. The computer was built in 1987. It still powers on, it will still boot off a floppy disk, the keyboard works fantastic (in fact, it is the highest quality keyboard I have ever used), even the mouse tracks just fine. The computer has SIMM RAM, a 1MBPS network adapter, power supply, IDE controller and early component controller board, floppy drive, and a motherboard. None of these components have failed.

I also have a 24-pin Citizen GSX 140 color DOT Matrix printer, built in about 1989. I still use it often for printing text and anything that will work fine being low resolution. Sure it is slow, but the cost to maintain and run is nothing compared to an ink-jet printer. For as many intricate parts as it has, it is amazing that it continues to work. Ribbons for these printers are still cheap, and rather than buying a new ribbon once it starts to fade I just spray some WD40 into the ribbon container and I keep printing.

Also in my collection of computer equipment is a 1985 9-pin IBM ProPrinter, a low-resolution draft printer. By no means is this fast, I do not use it very often since I have my much better GSX 140 printer, but what amazes me about this printer is how cheap it was to buy in 1985. The built-in fonts are able to render very readable text, but the printer will print any font generated by a computer just fine as well (and will print just like any other dot matrix printer for non-text printing). Ribbons are still available, people still use these printers. Dot matrix printers are the number-one printer still in invoice printing and have many other applications.

One of the oldest and most significant in my collection of computers is a 1983 Apple iie computer. This is still, somehow, working. Stored poorly for years waiting to be inventoried, I found it and was able to take it. It features an external floppy drive (which isn’t functioning 100%, but still works), power supply, RAM, a built-in keyboard, and a video adapter. It runs just fine.

So, the question for users: What computers and computer components have you owned (both newer and old) have you had that have truly withstood the tests of time and quality?