Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sun-barr!lll-winken!uwm.edu!spool.mu.edu!sdd.hp.com!think.com!linus!agate!pasteur!euler.Berkeley.EDU!johnim From: johnim@euler.Berkeley.EDU (John Im) Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.hardware Subject: Re: Wanted: Surge Protector Info Message-ID: <10705@pasteur.Berkeley.EDU> Date: 1 Feb 91 22:58:48 GMT References: <1991Jan24.041022.7950@murdoch.acc.Virginia.EDU> <139943@tiger.oxy.edu> <1991Feb1.031807.27561@rice.edu> Sender: news@pasteur.Berkeley.EDU Reply-To: johnim@euler.Berkeley.EDU (John Im) Organization: University of California, Berkeley Lines: 19 In article <1991Feb1.031807.27561@rice.edu> robbins@swordfish.rice.edu (Thomas Robbins) writes: > >and telephone connectors. Not only does it suppress surges, but cuts out power >cleanly should the power drop--good for hard disks, apparently. It has >a plastic case. Finally, it sells for $99. Is this a rip-off? > If you really have power problems of that magnitude, you should invest in a power back-up system instead. The main reason is that cutting off the power on a Mac tends to do nasty things with your Finder/System files, and maybe even open applications. Also, cutting the power while you drive is writing can end up trashing the entire drive. When looking for a surge protector, take a look at the energy rating (in Joules) that can be absorbed. Also, the response time should be as fast as possible ( best ones are under 1 nanosecond). Metal cases are also better than plastic ones. - John