APC® Back-UPS ES 550 Battery Backup System, Eight-Outlet, 550 Volt-Amps Review

Ok, I'm fed up w/ these units.
The best this thing has ever done for me is keep a lamp on once. So that was my foul up for not having it plugged in correctly but I became veeery meticulous after that.
When I bought the first one years ago it claimed 5 minutes of power to shut down. Back then it had a phone to usb cord to connect it to the computer. The software monitored things and I could see it, neat. I put a power strip between it and the wall plug and tested it. It worked, but when the power really went out it failed. >(
So last year I bought a new unit figuring the battery was old and tired. The new unit had no usb port or anything to communicate w/ the computer????Maybe Windows just has ups software built in these days.I trusted the old one to protect my TV and old computer. The battery must have been so old it randomly died and took everything w/ it.No power outage, or anything. :[
The new one I trusted on my new computer, but how does it communicate????It doesn't is the answer. I tried the old software CD, played w/ Windows, and fiddled long enough to gain confidence that the computer knew the battery was there.2 power outages and 2 failures later I gave up trying to make it work.

I know this just sounds like a lame horror story but I am really fed up.I can work computers well enough.I've gotten headaches trying to make these things work.I'm really baffled by no cable and no wireless anything w/ the new one.The new battery should have been fresh enough.I paid good money, but it just isn't working for me.I'm going back to a plane old power strip.
I give it 2 stars that it may work for someone.Or that I didn't use the incredible 4 pictures worth of instructions.
best of luck
Z

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Product Description:

APC® Back-UPS ES 550 Battery Backup System, Eight-Outlet, 550 Volt-Amps

Ultra-reliable, state-of-the-art device is the "greenest" battery back-up in its class. Ultra-efficient charging system that consumes one fifth of the power than any other backup in its class. Full power and data line conditioning protects all AC and RJ-11 connected devices from surges, spikes, lightning and other power disturbances. Four stage LED status display indicates On Line, On Battery, Replace Battery and Building Wiring Fault conditions. Continuous tone and two different chime alerts notify users of overloads, battery switch-overs and low battery levels. Battery compartment features "no tools required" accessibility. Includes PowerChute® auto-shutdown software. Global Product Type: Backup Systems; Protection Type: N/A; System VA: 550 VA; Backup Time at Full Load: 330 Watts @ 3.3 minutes.

SKU: APWBE550G - Sold as 1 EA

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