So, I was chatting with my new taskmaster and fellow Uno addict, Chris Grant, on Friday. I was informing him that I had experienced a power outage that zapped one of my posts. The outage effectively obliterated the first rendition of this post, if you must know. That's really a shame, as the first draft exuded a perfection that cannot be retold. Had you seen it, there's a good chance you would never have known sadness again.
Anywho, in response to my story, Chris -- bastion of wisdom that he is -- told me I should get a UPS for my computer (no, not PSU, a power supply, silly). This would protect both my valuable computer and my posts. Now, it just so happens that I do own a UPS. It's just not connected to my computer. Read on to sneak a peek at my inner fanboy.
Everybody still with me? Good. Pictured below is my PC's crappy, ten dollar power strip/surge protector that I got at Best Buy. I bought it the same day I bought my PC.
That's it. That's all that's protecting the hub of communication in my household. Sometimes I think the mere force of inserting a plug is going to snap it in half.
And now, gaze upon the Legendary Black Beast of a UPS that protects my TV, surround sound system, and -- most importantly -- my 360. Behold!
This sucker is big. As crazy as it sounds, it might actually be heavier than the original Xbox. Seriously, I stubbed a toe on it once and it didn't even move. On a side note, it's also a fairly accurate representation of my usual state of mind: a tangled, black mass of wires and plastic.
So rest assured my fellow fanboys, if a storm hits, my PC may explode into a fiery ball of blackened circuitry, but my Table Tennis will continue uninterrupted. Because it's rude to quit, you know?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-18-2006 @ 9:13AM
poopdick said...
hahaha good lord what a beast. ive neva eva seen such a think=g in my life. you should clean it though andd make the wires look better.
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6-18-2006 @ 9:14AM
wwsjd said...
Dude! Hoover your carpet! Really!
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6-18-2006 @ 9:22AM
illbewaitin said...
wwsjd is right on, give that carpet a good hose down.
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6-18-2006 @ 9:23AM
illbewaitin said...
wwsjd is right on, give that carpet a good hose down.
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6-18-2006 @ 9:26AM
Grendel Pr1me said...
To #1:
Now you know that would ruin his fanboy cred right?
Now if the site were called Mr. Belvedere Fanboy...
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6-18-2006 @ 10:14AM
Pete said...
What is this? MySpace?
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6-18-2006 @ 11:08AM
Pixelantes Anonymous said...
Richard, I can sense your UPS protection n00bness all the way to PixelanteLand. There's a serious problem with your setup.
You don't have your router connected to your UPS. Behold the first time you're ahead 20 - 19 in the fifth set of an intense ranked match and you're just about to hit a smash shot to win the match. Then a power outage strikes.
You will cry.
Don't say you weren't warned.
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6-18-2006 @ 11:21AM
Dominic White said...
@pete
Technically, yes.
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6-18-2006 @ 11:33AM
puh_fifer said...
No, this is myspace, and my home theater setup:
http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewPicture&friendID=14566614&MyToken=e21a5df5-4e4f-406e-acab-c340ad5656dd
I figured while it's sunday and we're sharing....
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6-18-2006 @ 11:43AM
stace said...
puh_fifer with all them wires, looks like a death trap..lol
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6-18-2006 @ 12:59PM
Richard Mitchell said...
Pixelante,
Actually, my router *is* connected to my UPS. In a strange twist of fate, my cable modem has to be pretty close to my TV, because it also delivers my Cable. So, my router is hooked up to that, which is in turn hooked up to the UPS.
As for my carpet, yeah, it's filthy. But it's behind my TV, so I never see it.
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6-18-2006 @ 7:37PM
Mr.Booyah said...
i got one of those things hooked up to my pc but it isnt very heavy and it isnt....wel that crack big.fits all snug under my pc desk.
and wen u only spend 4 dollars for a brand new one.............you gotta love the Philippines!!
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6-19-2006 @ 4:07AM
Curry said...
You didn't connect the fridge? So you're actually going to drink *WARM* beer during gaming sessions in the dark?!?
And besides that, buy a laptop. They've got 2~5 hour UPS built in standard depending on the model. Never lost me a post for Xboxic muhahaha.
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6-19-2006 @ 4:09AM
Curry said...
@#12 btw: the weight of a UPS is directly related to its capacity for storing electricity. A regular sized UPS is capable of supporting one regular PC for 5 to 15 minutes. Considering Richard also got his TV and surround system attached, I think he's glad to have one of the heavier types. The cheapo light-weight ones can only support a few minutes, if more than 1 at all.
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6-19-2006 @ 7:48AM
J.Goodwin said...
Whoa, dude, you REALLY need to get that off your carpet.
Major Fire Hazard!
However, everyone should have UPS connected to their 360. If you aren't using battery back up on devices with hard drives, you're asking for trouble.
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6-19-2006 @ 11:36AM
SuicideNinja said...
Just make sure that devices that shouldn't have power interruptions are plugged into the battery backed outlets. I'd say 360, PC, and the router (if expensive).
I use a UPS for my PC, and in the event of a power outage, I can still use my PC and dual monitors for a good 20 minutes. I wonder how long you could go with the 360?
I think quality surge protection is the most important. Use APCs, they have a $50,000 equipment protection warranty on most of their UPS's. I've worked with these for years. Battery replacement is easy if they wear out.
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6-19-2006 @ 4:09PM
nojok3 said...
UPS connected to router doesn't do much unless you actually still have your cable. If both get knocked down your UPS doesn't do much.
Myself, my UPS is connected to my desktop. Out of the 4 times since getting it that power has gone out, 1 time I was home to turn the system off. The other three my Dad just let it keep beeping till it shutoff. I'm so glad I bought the UPS. :(
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6-20-2006 @ 9:06PM
J.Goodwin said...
Those of us who have land line telephones and DSL, however, are used to our phone and therefore DSL access still working when the power goes out, since telephone lines are independently powered.
That's why you still need a real phone in case of emergencies.
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