Computer Power User Article - The Power To Protect

APC Back-UPS ES 750 & Back-UPS RS 900 APC (American Power Conversion) is practically synonymous with UPSes, so much so that a lot of people actually call UPSes “APCs,” similarly to how people call tissues “Kleenex” or photocopies “Xeroxes.” APC’s experience shows in its products, as the runtimes of the APC units I tested were much higher than the advertised VA (volt amp) ratings would suggest. Additionally, the bundled PowerChute software is first-rate. There aren’t many outward bells and whistles, however, and both units share some typical minor APC quirks. The Back-UPS ES 750 looks like a wide, fat, tall power strip and only has one button and status light. As with all APC units, you have to connect the internal battery yourself, which requires good hand strength, nimble fingers, and possibly a pair of needle-nosed pliers. Also common of all APC UPSes is a nonstandard connectivity cable, which is USB on one end and what looks like a fat LAN cable connector on the other. Keep the cable safe, as my local Radio Shack didn’t carry spares. The unit’s 10 sockets (five backed up, five surge-protected) encourage heavy use, and the unit managed to power my test machine for 19 minutes. Built-in coax connectors can filter your cable modem’s cable, which is rare for this price point. The Back-UPS RS 900 is an upscale unit for home and office use. It looks like a small, beige computer tower but is about half as wide as a SFF-style chassis. There’s a push-button switch and four clearly labeled indicator lights on the unit’s front, with all the other connections located on the back making for a tidy presentation. The RS 900 has jacks for both phone- and network-surge protection, along with a grounded screw for various audio and network hardware. There are