Blackout Buster UPS

[Richie Rich]

I bought a PK Electronics Blackout Buster UPS for $100.00 with a $30.00 Rebate or Net $70.00. Come to find out after I get it unpacked and start filling out the rebate that it expired 2 months ago.
CompUSA said that the company reps are responsible to remove the rebate stickers, so I email them. They won't honor the rebate so I may return it.

What do think about these UPS's?

I had an APC unit but it doesn't work, even with a new battery. (I think the relay inside is bad)

I was going to go with a Belkin if I return this one.

Any thoughts?

Rich

[Rat]

When did you buy that Blackout Buster? I bought mine two weeks ago with a $20 instant rebate and a $50 mail in rebate that expired on 10/31/2000 from CompUSA. I got the rebate form off the wall next to the register a Copm USA. As far as my opinion on the Blackout Buster...for $50 it's worth it.

Rat...

[Rat]

and a one

Rat...

[This message has been edited by Rat (edited 11-02-2000).]

[Rat]

and a two....

Rat...

[This message has been edited by Rat (edited 11-02-2000).]

[Axel]

You might keep your eye open for a BEST Power patriot UPS. I've come to prefer them over APC....

but here's another note -

UPC equipment for home use is a glorified surge-protector with a battery that will last between 7 and 20 minutes after the lights go out.....

To say that a UPS will do more than allow you to "gracefully" save and power down your PC is ignorant.....

It's there for brown-outs..... burps in the power....

Most UPS equipment comes with some sort of "power-chute" software linked through the com port which detects that power is off and then it begins shutting the system down correctly before shutting the PC down automatically. Most of these cause software conflicts and often hang not correctly shutting the system off before the battery is dead.

That basically just keeps windows 9x from dropping temp files on the hard drive..... on NT - which can take 5 to 8 minutes to complete a log out - this can save a few headaches and lost work.

[RampageIII]

I like BlackoutBuster. Bought mine 6 months ago and it has performed well. Had quite a few brownouts and couple of total power outages this summer. Never missed a beat! Might not have even noticed but for the beep.
http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif
I think I did get a rebate but compared to APC I think it's worth the $$.

[LJE2]

I bought a PK Blackout Buster a few months ago for my 2nd computer, I am happy with it, but I agree with Axel, don't install the software that you can download from their website. I did, and it caused major problems, (system hangs, crashes, failure to boot into windows, ect.) once I removed the program everything was ok.

[Richie Rich]

Thanks for the replies.

I guess I'll hang on to it after checking out the other rebates of course.

Rich

[pickel]

I've had mine for almost a year and it works great. However, the phone line supressor wouldn't work....until I found out it was labeled backwards...in is out and out is in http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

[Spacetrek5]

Also of note regarding the phone line suppressor - ours arrived with a faulty phone line cord. Tech support knew this was the problem right off the bat so it's possible that other units shipped with a bad cord. The response to my initial email was quick but they have _never_ responded to my repeated question about replacing the cord.