IBM Office Pro 500 Uninterruptible Power Supply

Circa 2001

A standby uninterruptible power supply (UPS) designed to protect computer systems from power failures.

Use Case:

Used to provide emergency battery backup power to a desktop computer and monitor during blackouts, brownouts, surges, and lightning, allowing users to safely save data and shut down their systems.

• It offered "3D" protection: protection from system Damage, system Downtime, and Data loss.

• The unit included six outlets: three provided both battery backup and surge protection, while the other three were surge-only.

• It featured network and phone line surge protection and management software that could be connected via an RS232 serial cable to facilitate an automatic, unattended shutdown of the operating system.

Historical Significance:

Represents IBM's entry into the consumer and small office UPS market. At the time of its release, it was a dependable, compact, and affordable solution for home users looking to safeguard their valuable computer data during power disruptions. While its advertised 30-minute runtime was found to be optimistic in testing, its inclusion of both surge protection and power management software via a serial connection was a valuable offering for the market segment it targeted, making data preservation a standard expectation for desktop PC users.

(H-21.5cm x W-12cm x D-16cm)