Selecting a Battery Backup for Your Mac

[kelly]

TMO Quick Tip - Selecting a Battery Backup for Your Mac

http://www.macobserver.com/tip/2007/02/28.1.shtml

[Gregg]

I don't think I need a UPS for my home computer. I don't use it for a business purpose. But, I wonder if other "casual" users like me have one. ??

My computer is on for maybe 5 hours most evenings, all night Friday, all day Saturday, maybe 9 hours on Sunday. Most of that time, of course, no one is using it, thus we would not lose data in a "melt down" - just the hardware, if it's a bad one.

[Xairbusdriver]

QUOTE

thus we would not lose data in a "melt down" - just the hardware, if it's a bad one

And, where, pray tell is all that 'data' if not in the 'hardware'? Or are you saying that you have every single file on an off-site back up?! Congrats, if so.

The decision on whether to have/use an UPS should be based on how important the data on your system is to the owner of the data—how much effort is that owner willing to make to restore that data and will it even be possible to restore it. Just because you are a 'home/casual' user doesn't mean there may not be very rare, extremely important data on ones machine.

[RNKIII]

I have one for my computer, external HDDs and printers/scanners...   Mainly to 'even out' any spikes or dips in the power....

Our computer is on 24/7..... and the software from APC will shut it down smoothly when/if the battery goes down.

The printers and scanners are not on as much as the computer, so there is not as much 'draw' as if eveything were on.

IAWABD... I look on it as 'insurance' or 'protection' of one nature or another..


Bob K.   rnkiii

[dboh]

I use a UPS, and it's come in mighty handy during power spikes or when the power goes out. It gives me time to shut down safely. Well worth the cost, considering what could happen if you're in the middle of doing something.

[kimmer]

QUOTE(RNKIII @ Mar 2 2007, 09:08 AM) [snapback]120669[/snapback]

IAWABD... I look on it as 'insurance' or 'protection' of one nature or another..
Bob K.   rnkiii

What ABD and Bob said. It's cheaper than having to replace our Mac's, printer, scanner, etc if there's a power surge or something. They don't have to be "on" to get hit and fried.

[krissel]

Ditto dboh. Having enough time to shut down properly and avoiding system corruption or worse makes it worth it. You don't need to protect everything (I don't bother with cheap printers) but the usual active drives and monitors are crucial.