Do you use a surge protector for your laptop?

Do you use a surge protector? Where and when do you use it?

 

Right now, I only have a surge protector at my house, but I'm going to buy a portable one for on the road.
I feel much more comfortable having all my computer equipment plugged into a surge protector.

 

Ditto what Chaz said.
If/when I get a laptop, I will get a portable surge protector for it.
As A fellow northeasterner, I'm sure Chaz remembers the blackout a few years ago. And the Brownouts that went with it.
Brownouts are a surefire way to wreck computers.

 

Yep I have one at home and one for the road. We get a lot of thunderstorms here so all my electronics are defended and I have a generator to stay up and running during storms

 

Definitely.
I'm really careful with any sort of storms. When I got my desktop a few years back, I left it plugged in, came back, and my video card was fried because we had a surge. Fried my $549 (at the time) Radeon 9800XT. I was glad I bought the accidental damage protection on my Dell.

 

Always, just to be safe. "Better to be safe than sorry."

And you'd be really sorry that you didn't spend the few dollars to get a surge protector if and when you would have needed one.

 

I use one at home. For the road, I dont use one. It becomes too heavy to carry all that with you. Maybe I should consider carrying it for longer trips....

 

Here is what I use:

http://www.techdepot.com/product.asp?productid=2152281&affid=10000485

The Belkin Travel Surge Protector, which I bought from Dell. It has compact size and weight and allows two products to be plugged into the outlet.

 

Might have to pick one of those up for college...

 

I have all my computer stuff plugged into a UPS. I also have a single-outlet surge supressor for travel.

I was camping during that blackout. Had no idea it was happening for hours.

 

I use a surge protector at my home. When I go out, I have two nine cell batteries so I don't even bring my power cord with me. I may invest in a portable one at some point though for when I go on trips.

 

Of course, I use surge protector. I just two portable surge protector for my laptop and my sister's.

JC

 

What about these little ones that go between your AC adapter and power cord? Are they worth a damn? A lot smaller. (the two on the bottom right of the pic).

 

Hey, those are the one I got. It worth it because you dont have to worry about it.

JC

 

Fun comparative satellite imagery... http://www.globalsecurity.org/eye/black-out_030814_dmsp_comp01.htm

 

I only use a surge protector at home. I don't travel often enough to use one outside the home.
Tim

 

There isnt an option for "No" even with that question?

I dont use one and dont see any reason to . It might be usefull but I have never had a problem with power surges. My Notebook's Extended Warranty covers power surges so Im fine I suppose.

 

Where's the 'Never'?

 

For a laptop it is not all that critical if you have the battery in the laptop and while connected to a/c. Even so where I plug in my laptop, that plug strip is plugged into a UPS - not a surge protector. All my desktops are also plugged into their own UPS devices.

Surge protectors can go bad and you will be unaware of it until it is too late.

 

When I'm in the U.S. I don't. When I'm abroad I always do because in some countries the current is not quite as consistent.

 

I have a portable surge protector that I use everywhere and all of the time (when plugged in, that is) - I don't want my notebook fried if there's a surge!

 

lol, Cleveland and Detroit got knocked out big time. My parents told me that the power was back on here (near Rochester, NY) by ~8PM, which is probably why there is still some light in the Rochester area.

 

I'm using one of these as a surge protector for my notebook. I have enough surge protectors lying around in general to choke a horse (between those I've bought and those my roommates have left lying around, about 10), but I wanted something that could just be wrapped up with the power cord and ready to go.

 

I use one at home, but am looking into getting one for the road. It really only takes one time to destroy a $2000 piece of equipment. One can never be too safe.

 

Does it have the same insurance type coverage that standard Surge protectors have? I didn't see it on manufacturer information on their web site.

 

Now that my desktop is coming along nicely I might just buy a surge protector. Cant have any important parts fried

 

I should probally buy a new surge protector when I order my new laptop. I've been using the one I have right now for years

 

I plug my laptop (batteries removed) into a Liebert UPS with surge protection both at home and at work. When I travel, I bring along the APC's Surge Protector.

 

I use one at home in my room, but nowhere else. Future Shop/Best Buy extended warranties cover power surge, so if it gets fried they will replace/repair it for free.

 

I got the following surge protector (Targus Mini Mobile Surge Protector). It just attaches to my power brick:

http://www.targus.com/us/product_details.asp?sku=APS02US

It; however, does not have a stellar warranty like the Belkin.

 

I use a Belkin Surgemaster. Plain £10 protector

Now to check whether HP 3 year warranty covers surges...

 

Yes always, home and away better safe than sorry.

 

I have UPS on all pc's & Networking hardware. The only thing that is not UPS backed is my Laser printer and its on surge protection.

 

You bet. If nothing else, it's peace of mind. I'd rather have to replace a surge protector than a desktop/laptop.

 

Question - I do use one but I also have my computer hooked up to an ethernet cord coming straight from the wall - is that an issue?

~ Brett

 

Ive got an APC Performance SurgeArrest hooked up in my dorm. My computer, TV, ethernet, cable, phone, and most of the electronics in the room run off it. So all my stuff is secure. If im on the road im usually on the battery, and not plugged in anyway. If im out and its charging while theres a storm I just dont bother, better safe then sorry. Theres actually a really big thunderstorm heading for southwest minnesota, where I am no. I guess it will be put to the test.

 

Yeah you can get surges through your ethernet just like through a power outlet. Thats why like I said before, my surge protector has protection for my eithernet and for the cable cord for my tv in my dorm, along with the power.

 

uhhh...i dont have a surge protector, well actually i do but i dont use it for my laptop...should i be using one?

 

is there a website that tests all these surge protector side by side and ranks them accordingly?

 

I'm not using one so I didnt vote. Maybe none should have been a choice. But going to get one soon.

 

So what if you do get a surge? What happens to the computer??

 

It commits suicide.

Anyone know where I can buy a cheap surge protector in Toronto, or better yet, Cambridge, Ontario?

 

I use a Belkin Travel surge protector and I use it everywhere as you never know when trouble will happen.

 

so what happens if there is a surge but ur laptop isnt plugged in, if its just unplugged even from the ac adapter?

 

It would be nice to have a APC 500va block. Just think, battery +battery = total power lol

 

well, it won't get hurt then.

 

well thats good to know cause i dont keep it plugged in unless im gaming or charging it up during the day (which im trying to keep to a minimal)

 

Does the breaker in my basement not protect my entire house from power surges? I have never used a surge protector in my entire life, and have never had a single piece of equipment die on me. Am I just ignorant and very lucky?

 

probably lucky

 

On my HP dv9000t I use an APC Back UPS-ES 500 UPS. Gotta protect that puppy.

Ron