If you are thinking of purchasing a new computer setup, one important component that is often overlooked is a good surge protector. While locally we only have to worry about lightning a few times a year, power spikes can still happen at any time, and for the investment put into a brand new machine it is better to be safe than sorry: AppleCare does not consider lightning or electrical damage to be repairable under warranty!
Surge protectors are used to protect electronic devices from power spikes, and should not be confused with power strips (some power strips do have surge protection built-in, and most of the time this will be labelled clearly, but never assume it to be built in if there is no indication).
Generally speaking, picking the surge protector with the highest Joule rating is going to be the best bet. Higher Joule ratings mean that the surge protector can absorb more energy (such as from a lightning strike or power spike) without failing.
It is also important to note that surge protectors also do have a finite life span, so your 10-year-old one probably isn’t up to par anymore (even if it’s never warded off a lightning strike), not to mention it likely has a lower Joule rating than the ones available today.
We’ve got a good selection to choose from in store, my two favorites being the Belkin 12-Outlet Surge Suppressor (rated at 3990 Joules) which is perfect for your home setup, and the Belkin 5-Outlet Mini Surge Protector with 2 USB ports (for your iPhone or iPod!) for your portable setup.
Both are attractively priced at $24.99, so if you are buying yourself an awesome new Mac setup, don’t forget the silent warrior who sits behind the desk—the surge protector!