» Vendor and Manufacturer Links and Comments «

Below are links to the better known vendors

• APC
  (Partner program available to trade)
  As mentioned elsewhere on Ackadia, I used to be an approved reseller for APC (before I sold my company), so naturally I have a vague bias here. However, I have always made a point of only recommending equipment and solutions I trust and would be happy to use myself. Unlike so many others in this material world of ours, I am firmly of the belief respect can only be earned, not handed out as hollow words, based on margins and freebies…
  
  As a measure of my faith, as well as contemplating their 'APC Smart-UPS RT' for a replacement for myself, I just recommended their 'APC Smart-UPS 1000VA' to my dentist for his file server.
  Open wide, Paul, this won't hurt a bit….
  
  Joking aside, their product selector is a great feature, not that I haven't seen it used on other sites. If you just want a guide, you enter the equipment you need to protect and it comes up with a selection of options based on best price, best value and best performance. Their selection of white papers is brilliant too.
  
  Tempering that, it drives me absolutely nuts that they almost try to hide the topology. I just want to look at (say) the 'line interactive' models as opposed to looking at the category, then the product name, then play 'pin the tail on the donkey' as I scan all around the technical sheets looking for the relevant data. A lot more product shots wouldn't hurt either!
  
  
  
• Belkin
  As far as I'm aware, they have no on-line UP's, though they do have a good range of standby and line-interactive UPS's and an amazing range of surge protectors. While I know one or two specialists who are disparaging of the brand, I personally have absolutely no problem recommending their products for homes and small businesses. Indeed I am in the process of ordering a selection of products, includes a couple of 'Belkin 1200VA Universal' UPS's for our own use.
  
  
  
• Liebert
  (Partner program available to trade )
  I find it intriguing that they don't hold/own the 'liebert.co.uk' domain name. The lesser significance they appear to give to the UK and Europe in general is evident in the fact the UPS division is just a section of the Emerson Network Power site. An important distinction in my mind, but there you go.
  
  Anyway, I was considering the 'Liebert GXT' for myself, but on reflection I will concentrate of my first choices of APC and Powerware. As for the web site, especially the European one, I get the distinct impression it is aimed more at networking professionals - ideally those with a decent understanding of the technology. As such, regardless of how good the products may be, I, personally, would advice home users and small (even medium) businesses to look elsewhere.
  
  
  
• MGE UPS Systems
  (Partner program available to trade)
  Another good company I've been aware of for several year, though admittedly I've yet to try their products myself. Global coverage, nice web site with products nicely parcelled off into categories like…
  
  PC Server & Storage Protection:
        Pulsar Evolution - line interactive
        Pulsar EXtreme C - true on interactive
  
  The one thing I found confusing when I first visited the site though was that it takes a top down approach for the products, then, when you start getting interested, it puts the in-depth detail links on the menubar over on the left, which is far from intuitive. Personally I found this rather disorientating as you naturally expect them to be at the bottom of the page. Ah well.
  
  That said, once you get into it, the details they provide are impressive and extend to numerous photos of the products and the associated monitoring software.
  
  
  
• MinuteMan UPS
  Never used these myself, though I believe they are quite popular in America. They had at least one dealer in the UK, but they have since closed, it seems. They have a decent range, good advice and an easily navigated web site. They even have a bulletin board for users!
  
  Also - and I feel a APC and others learn here - they categorise units properly. i.e. The UPS's are grouped by topology (i.e. line-interactive models) for those that understand what they are looking for, by application (i.e. home users, EPOS), and by market (i.e. telecoms, education).
  
  
  
• Powerware
  First off, here's a solid recommendation: I got a couple of Powerware UPS's nearly a decade ago. One is still running happily, protecting my wife's computer, I think another is covering the kids old computer and a third one was covering my workstation until a string of blackouts (from a local cable fault) killed the battery.
  
  As for their web site, the listing is so simple I could cry for joy. The 'Series 3' are intended for home (Standby UPS's), the 'Series 5' are line interactive for SOHO and SME market, while the 'Series 9' - such as the 9120 I am considering - are for more mission critical applications. Added to this, the detailed information is to the right of the product image, where you might expect it.
  
  If your are not au fait with the level categories you simply choose your market sector instead. Trade and regular visitors have the option instead to just pick the model number from another menu. All this either on the home page or but a click away. Heck, they even have an image bank link on the 'about us' page with high definition photographs of the products from various angles (up to 30Mb TIF's!).
  
  Needless to say they also have a product selector which works remarkably well. It offered me five products, three around 1,500VA, and two around 2,000VA, essentially the 5125 and the 9120, both of which are pretty much what I need, the 9120 obviously covering all 9 electrical disturbances. Another click on the chosen model takes you to a list of recommended suppliers - including IBM. What could be simpler?
  
  
  
• Riello Galatrek
  (Partner program available to trade)
  Uninterruptible Power Supplies and Standby Power Systems provide protection from a wide range of power problems and keep computer, telecoms, medical and industrial processes running during mains power failures. Riello Galatrek is the UK subsidiary of Riello UPS Manufacturing srl - the leading power solutions manufacturer in Europe.
  
  I was recently recommended a 'Riello' by a specialist myself, and my first thought was of the order, "Pttt, like I trust my data to an unknown brand", then I saw the Galatrek tag. Galatrek are one of the granddaddies of the business! No problem with these then.
  
  Anyway, their web site has a selection of user friendly guides and overviews and, I'm happy to notice, they clearly delineate the units, i.e.:
  On-line UPS single phase UPS for IP networks and telecoms option 19" rack
  They even let you search by several categories, i.e.:
  Less than £50
  Entry level power protection - line interactive UPS suitable for stand alone home or office applications. These UPS have no remote monitoring port or software.
  
  Certainly worth consideration, I have been looking over their on-line 'Dialog Plus DLP - S' as a possible replacement for my own failing UPS, though it has served me nearly ten years! One clear advantage I've noticed for the brand is they claim to handle an overload as high as 150%. Not something you really want to try, but the extra safety net is a recommended feature.
  
  
  
• Sourceguide's list of UPS System Businesses
  
  
  
• DMOZ's list of UPS System Businesses