A dead notebook isn't much good for anything, except perhaps keeping doorways open. APC's PNote Pro can eliminate at least one cause of defunct laptops.
Anyone who travels with a notebook must know the scenario. You're almost out of juice, and you've just landed in a strange hotel/office/boardroom with your presentation ready to go. You plug in your notebook and get ready to work, only to find it's suddenly inactive, and, depending on how lucky you are, you may have also set off the fire alarm.
Actually, the preceding situation is reasonably rare; an awful lot of newer notebooks are quite good at sacrificing the power supply and leaving the notebook relatively intact. Although, this doesn't mean it can't happen -- which is where paranoia-reducing devices like APC's SurgeArrest PNote Pro come in.
Physically the PNote Pro is the size and shape of a Mars bar, although it's probably better for your teeth. It is positioned as an intermediary step between any two-pronged notebook power supply and wall socket, which should describe most models. If you've got a fully sealed power supply (without a removable two-prong cable), look elsewhere for your surge protection -- as you won't be able to plug in the PNote Pro. The size and weight are a plus for notebook users, although you'd still need to find space in your notebook bag for it. That could be tricky for notebooks that come with very slim bags.
The PNote Pro comes with instructions in just about every language you could hope to know -- and several we didn't -- but installation is very, very simple. Unplug everything, plug in the PNote Pro first to check for immediate surges and spikes, and then connect everything else. APC claims that the unit will sacrifice itself in the event of a surge; generally at this time it's necessary to go and purchase another PNote Pro. That's still cheaper than another notebook, of course. The two-pronged connection model also means you could conceivably use it as a surge protector with other devices, if that suited your fancy.
Apart from pure power protection, the Pnote Pro also has sockets for fax and modem lines, with a separate indicator for excess charges travelling down the phone line. This has useful applications if you're not sure whether a phone line is digital or not; it's much easier to check this kind of thing with the PNote Pro than with a fried modem. A testing cable is supplied with the PNote Pro for this purpose.
The PNote Pro is certainly a decent purchase at the price for anyone with a serious notebook investment, or for anyone who just doesn't trust their power sources.
APC SurgeArrest PNote Pro
Company: American Power Conversion
Price: AU$60
Distributor: Selected resellers
Phone: (02) 9955 9366
3%
2%
