Surge Protector for iMac

As long as the GreenPower doesn't turn off the power to the iMac until it's completed shutdown and has turned completely off, then no, it shouldn't harm the Mac. If it turns off the iMac when some other component is turned off, though, and the iMac doesn't go through it's normal power down sequence, then such a sudden shutdown could cause corruption of the hard drive.

Whether or not that device is a good surge protector, though, I can't say; many such devices are not. I'm not a big fan of Monster's products. You might consider this unit from Tripp Lite, who I've always found to make a high-quality product:

http://www.tripplite.com/en/products/model.cfm?txtSeriesID=866&txtModelID=4493

Regards.

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Well, a computer has a small battery inside to keep the clock and other settings going if there is no power, so you would probably be needing to replace that battery more often and/or some of your settings would not be up to date. To change that battery, you'll have to take it in - it is not accessible from the outside.

Rather than this surge protector, I would seriously consider a UPS (uninterruptible power supply) for a computer which will allow you to properly shut down the Mac if there is an interruption while operating from the built in UPS battery.

I think the way the Monster Cable surge protector works is that when the connected unit is powered off, it will cut off power afterwards. I am not sure how the surge protector knows when to shut off the power flow.

That's the way most such devices work. For the iMac, that would have to be the "connected unit" acting as the master. If the other devices are peripherals to the Mac, then such a power manager would probably make sense. Unless you never want to watch your TV without your iMac running, though, then the GreenPower probably wouldn't really be suitable.

The tech person at BestBuy of course swears by Monster Cable. I guess it is suppose to be the brand that music professionals trust.

Of course the tech and sales people do. BB gets a high margin on Monster's products. And I was a music professional and I most certainly don't trust Monster. Part of that is personal, due to Monster's draconian trademark protection legal battles (for instance, they tried to sue the Chicago Bears for trademark violation for using "Monsters of the Midway"), but most importantly I don't find their products to be worth the price they charge.

It sounds like you had negative experiences with Monster Cable products. If you don't mind me asking, what were they and what do you like about Tripp Lite products.

I find Monster products typically to be overpriced, often vastly so, for what you get. Their cables are notorious for being priced many times what the quality would justify but are pushed hard to unsuspecting consumers in stores like Best Buy. I'm also quite leery of many surge protector products; many use cheap technology that makes the problem worse.

Again, I can't say that the GreenPower would not be a good product for the money, but I have used Tripp Lite products for years and have never had any cause to regret it, and the product I mentioned, on paper at least, provides a higher quality product for the same price. APC also provides decent product, but again, I've found Tripp Lite to be better; they seem to spend less money on marketing and more on the product.

Regards.

I only have two comments to add;

1. I would never share a power lead for my computer (of any make) with other domestic appliances.

2. Surge protectors are way too slow for most computers and other sensitive devices. I would strongly advise a UPS, which also protects your Mac from power cuts; a far more prevalent problem in most places.

Surge protectors generally have supression times of less than a nanosecond, more than fast enough for any solid-state electronics. I believe you're thinking of a "backup power supply" (often referred to as being a UPS but are not true examples) which do have times to switch from AC to battery slow enough to sometimes cause problems with computers. A true UPS, where the equipment it always fed from the battery (which is continually charged when the AC is available), avoids such switchover problems, but a true UPS is more expensive than a "backup supply".

Regards.