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I use an 10+ year old APC smart ups 1400

Sort of would recommend buying a reconditioned 1400 or 1500 for big machines and a reconditioned smaller one if you don't need something as big.

A lot of people buy new when the batteries die, so there are some decent ones out there.
 
I have a APC Back-UPS RS 800 (800VA) for my iMac 27" Core i5 and a Tripp Lite OMNI1000LCD (1000VA) for my Mac Mini, Drobo, AV receiver, TV, game consoles, etc.
 
At home, I use a 6 year old APC's Back-UPS ES 350 for my old (now mother's) huge Dell dinosaur. However, it can only power the computer for 3 minutes from it's original 20. I'm not going to get another one as I want that computer to die.

In college, I only use a cheap Philips surge protector for my MBP.
 
If you have a desktop that you'd rather not have be ruined, you need a backup powersupply. Even if it only gives it another couple of minutes, if it has software thats compatible with your OS, it will tell it to shutdown thereby not losing data and such - and its a surge protector.
 
Thank you for your replies. I went out and purchased a APC 550VA for my iMac. I feel better knowing I have this added protection. Especially now as we are having a lot of rain storms.
 
At home, I use a 6 year old APC's Back-UPS ES 350 for my old (now mother's) huge Dell dinosaur. However, it can only power the computer for 3 minutes from it's original 20. I'm not going to get another one as I want that computer to die.

While I know you want the Dell to die, you can easily get a replacement battery for your UPS and have it back to snuff in no time.
 
I use an 10+ year old APC smart ups 1400

Sort of would recommend buying a reconditioned 1400 or 1500 for big machines and a reconditioned smaller one if you don't need something as big.

A lot of people buy new when the batteries die, so there are some decent ones out there.


A proper UPS is definitely a must. We've been using 1400's for a long time, they work like a charm. Lately we've been buying the new SMT1500's for our office systems. They're the newer 1500's that just came out a few months back. They work great, only thing is that the fan is really loud and kind of difficult to use in a quiet setting. The older 1500's were much quieter. Either way, it's better to have than not to have.
 
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