OT:My computer blew up

The $10 protectors is electrically equivalent to the $100
protector AND equivalent to the battery backup protector.
Protection is not the protector. An effective protection must
connect to something different - the protection. How to
identify ineffective protectors: 1) no dedicated connection
less than 10 feet to earth ground AND 2) manufacturer avoids
all mention of earthing.

Effective protection, what it does, and why earthing is so
essential was defined previously in "Pull the wall plug or
not?" in nz.comp on 7 Sept 2004 at
http://tinyurl.com/5ttwl

Effective 'whole house' protectors are sold in Home Depot
and Lowes. Effective protectors have brand names of
reputation such as Intermatic, Leviton, Square D, GE, Siemens,
Cutler Hammer, Polyphaser, Furse, etc. What was the brand
name on that protector that has no earth ground connection?
Effective 'whole house' protectors costs about $1 per
protected appliance. How much for the undersized, overhyped,
ineffective protector (ie. from Monster Cable) that so often
promoted in electronic discount stores? $80 per ... ? 80
times more money for a protector that does not even claim
effective protection.

Defined is an effective secondary protection system. Your
primary protection system also requires inspection:
http://www.tvtower.com/fpl.html

Notice what every effective protection 'system' involves.
Not big bucks. Not in a plug-in UPS. A protector is only as
effective as its earth ground - which ineffective protectors
don't want to discuss. Visit that above cited, previous
discussion.

JimR said:

Lightning.Florida.been without a comp for a couple weeks. Went
through hell with Dell..I had 5 days left on my warranty so they
replaced the motherboard and power thingy(the unit with the
fan)...still didnt work...so I bought a new Dell..still didnt
work....my cable modem was trashed also. Anyways..word to the
wise...those 10 dollar surge protectors DO NOT work...you have to
get a better surge protector. I heard those battery backup ones
are the way to go.

Jim

"JimR" <jremick@comcast> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Lightning.Florida.been without a comp for a couple weeks. Went through

hell

Quoted message said:

with Dell..I had 5 days left on my warranty so they replaced the

motherboard

Quoted message said:

and power thingy(the unit with the fan)...still didnt work...so I bought a
new Dell..still didnt work....my cable modem was trashed also.
Anyways..word to the wise...those 10 dollar surge protectors DO NOT
work...you have to get a better surge protector. I heard those battery
backup ones are the way to go.

Jim

Hmmmm......burning in hell....lightning strikes you in Florida (Go GOP!).

Just a coincidence! 🙂

"JimR" <jremick@comcast> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Lightning.Florida.been without a comp for a couple weeks. Went through
hell with Dell..I had 5 days left on my warranty so they replaced the
motherboard and power thingy(the unit with the fan)...still didnt
work...so I bought a new Dell..still didnt work....my cable modem was
trashed also.
Anyways..word to the wise...those 10 dollar surge protectors DO NOT
work...you have to get a better surge protector. I heard those battery
backup ones are the way to go.

Jim

Can't you read boy??

If you could, you would realize that your experience with Dell computers is
similar to other dell owners.

And how were the accents with your technical help?

"Lester Long" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"JimR" <jremick@comcast> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Lightning.Florida.been without a comp for a couple weeks. Went through

hell

Quoted message said:

with Dell..I had 5 days left on my warranty so they replaced the

motherboard

Quoted message said:

and power thingy(the unit with the fan)...still didnt work...so I bought
a
new Dell..still didnt work....my cable modem was trashed also.
Anyways..word to the wise...those 10 dollar surge protectors DO NOT
work...you have to get a better surge protector. I heard those battery
backup ones are the way to go.

Jim

Hmmmm......burning in hell....lightning strikes you in Florida (Go GOP!).

Just a coincidence! 🙂

Its a red state ;}

Jim

"Lee Michaels" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"JimR" <jremick@comcast> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Lightning.Florida.been without a comp for a couple weeks. Went through
hell with Dell..I had 5 days left on my warranty so they replaced the
motherboard and power thingy(the unit with the fan)...still didnt
work...so I bought a new Dell..still didnt work....my cable modem was
trashed also.
Anyways..word to the wise...those 10 dollar surge protectors DO NOT
work...you have to get a better surge protector. I heard those battery
backup ones are the way to go.

Jim

Can't you read boy??

If you could, you would realize that your experience with Dell computers
is similar to other dell owners.

And how were the accents with your technical help?

It seemed like they were from India.

Jim

"JimR" <jremick@comcast> wrote

Quoted message said:

"Lester Long" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

"JimR" <jremick@comcast> wrote

Quoted message said:

Lightning.Florida.been without a comp for a couple weeks. Went through

hell

Quoted message said:

with Dell..I had 5 days left on my warranty so they replaced the

motherboard

Quoted message said:

and power thingy(the unit with the fan)...still didnt work...so I bought
a
new Dell..still didnt work....my cable modem was trashed also.
Anyways..word to the wise...those 10 dollar surge protectors DO NOT
work...you have to get a better surge protector. I heard those battery
backup ones are the way to go.

Hmmmm......burning in hell....lightning strikes you in Florida (Go GOP!).

Just a coincidence! 🙂

Its a red state ;}

Jeb Bush is the only thing keeping God from washing Florida away with a
Flood.

David

"David Cohen" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"JimR" <jremick@comcast> wrote

Quoted message said:

"Lester Long" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

"JimR" <jremick@comcast> wrote
> Lightning.Florida.been without a comp for a couple weeks. Went through
hell
> with Dell..I had 5 days left on my warranty so they replaced the
motherboard
> and power thingy(the unit with the fan)...still didnt work...so I
> bought a
> new Dell..still didnt work....my cable modem was trashed also.
> Anyways..word to the wise...those 10 dollar surge protectors DO NOT
> work...you have to get a better surge protector. I heard those battery
> backup ones are the way to go.

Hmmmm......burning in hell....lightning strikes you in Florida (Go
GOP!).

Just a coincidence! 🙂

Its a red state ;}

Jeb Bush is the only thing keeping God from washing Florida away with a
Flood.

David

I actually kinda like Jeb...he's alot smarter than his presidential brother.

Jim

"Lee Michaels" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"JimR" <jremick@comcast> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Lightning.Florida.been without a comp for a couple weeks. Went through
hell with Dell..I had 5 days left on my warranty so they replaced the
motherboard and power thingy(the unit with the fan)...still didnt
work...so I bought a new Dell..still didnt work....my cable modem was
trashed also.
Anyways..word to the wise...those 10 dollar surge protectors DO NOT
work...you have to get a better surge protector. I heard those battery
backup ones are the way to go.

Jim

Can't you read boy??

If you could, you would realize that your experience with Dell computers

is

Quoted message said:

similar to other dell owners.

And how were the accents with your technical help?

stfu

JimR said:

Lightning.Florida.been without a comp for a couple weeks. Went through hell
with Dell..I had 5 days left on my warranty so they replaced the motherboard
and power thingy(the unit with the fan)...still didnt work...so I bought a
new Dell..still didnt work....my cable modem was trashed also.
Anyways..word to the wise...those 10 dollar surge protectors DO NOT
work...you have to get a better surge protector. I heard those battery
backup ones are the way to go.

Jim

No surge protector is going to halt a bolt of lightning, Jim. They will,
however, kill everything attached to them by giving the lightning more
devices to burn up from the single point. Basically, aside from have
some serious electrical work done on your place, the best defence is a
good backup policy and home contents insurance that covers such
instances. I'm surprised Dell helped at all, unless you purchased some
sort of extra special warranty from them they are not responsible for
repairing your computer in the event of fire, flood, or in this case
lightning strike.

That said, power conditioning appliances like those from APC can improve
computer function and longevity, but that depends on your home wiring
and the power grid you're on. Brownouts kill more hard drives than surges.

Cheers,

Ari

--
spammage trappage: replace fishies_ with yahoo

I'm going to die rather sooner than I'd like. I tried to protect my
neighbours from crime, and became the victim of it. Complications in
hospital following this resulted in a serious illness. I now need a bone
marrow transplant. Many people around the world are waiting for a marrow
transplant, too. Please volunteer to be a marrow donor:
http://www.abmdr.org.au/
http://www.marrow.org/

On Mon, 13 Jun 2005 01:11:04 GMT, "David" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

"Lee Michaels" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"JimR" <jremick@comcast> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Lightning.Florida.been without a comp for a couple weeks. Went through
hell with Dell..I had 5 days left on my warranty so they replaced the
motherboard and power thingy(the unit with the fan)...still didnt
work...so I bought a new Dell..still didnt work....my cable modem was
trashed also.
Anyways..word to the wise...those 10 dollar surge protectors DO NOT
work...you have to get a better surge protector. I heard those battery
backup ones are the way to go.

Jim

Can't you read boy??

If you could, you would realize that your experience with Dell computers

is

Quoted message said:

similar to other dell owners.

And how were the accents with your technical help?

stfu

That'll be you straight into the "bozo bin"!! ;o)

Ugh! It's Monday!! ;o(

"Charles" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On Mon, 13 Jun 2005 01:11:04 GMT, "David" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

"Lee Michaels" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"JimR" <jremick@comcast> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
> Lightning.Florida.been without a comp for a couple weeks. Went

through

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> hell with Dell..I had 5 days left on my warranty so they replaced the
> motherboard and power thingy(the unit with the fan)...still didnt
> work...so I bought a new Dell..still didnt work....my cable modem was
> trashed also.
> Anyways..word to the wise...those 10 dollar surge protectors DO NOT
> work...you have to get a better surge protector. I heard those

battery

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> backup ones are the way to go.
>
> Jim

Can't you read boy??

If you could, you would realize that your experience with Dell

computers

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

is

Quoted message said:

similar to other dell owners.

And how were the accents with your technical help?

stfu

That'll be you straight into the "bozo bin"!! ;o)

Ugh! It's Monday!! ;o(

Unfortunately I think I might still be there - of course we know he only
'pretend' killfiles

On Mon, 13 Jun 2005 09:49:54 GMT, "David" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

"Charles" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On Mon, 13 Jun 2005 01:11:04 GMT, "David" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

"Lee Michaels" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
>
> "JimR" <jremick@comcast> wrote in message
> news:[email hidden]...
> > Lightning.Florida.been without a comp for a couple weeks. Went

through

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> > hell with Dell..I had 5 days left on my warranty so they replaced the
> > motherboard and power thingy(the unit with the fan)...still didnt
> > work...so I bought a new Dell..still didnt work....my cable modem was
> > trashed also.
> > Anyways..word to the wise...those 10 dollar surge protectors DO NOT
> > work...you have to get a better surge protector. I heard those

battery

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> > backup ones are the way to go.
> >
> > Jim
>
>
> Can't you read boy??
>
> If you could, you would realize that your experience with Dell

computers

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

is
> similar to other dell owners.
>
> And how were the accents with your technical help?
>
>
stfu

That'll be you straight into the "bozo bin"!! ;o)

Ugh! It's Monday!! ;o(

Unfortunately I think I might still be there - of course we know he only
'pretend' killfiles

Frankly speaking we should not refer to the old "alleged Killfiles"
surely Earnest!! ;o)

Ugh! It's Monday - almost time for my workout, then it will all be
OK!!

"Charles" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On Mon, 13 Jun 2005 09:49:54 GMT, "David" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

"Charles" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On Mon, 13 Jun 2005 01:11:04 GMT, "David" <[email hidden]>
wrote:

>
>"Lee Michaels" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
>news:[email hidden]...
>>
>> "JimR" <jremick@comcast> wrote in message
>> news:[email hidden]...
>> > Lightning.Florida.been without a comp for a couple weeks. Went

through

Quoted message said:

>> > hell with Dell..I had 5 days left on my warranty so they replaced

the

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>> > motherboard and power thingy(the unit with the fan)...still didnt
>> > work...so I bought a new Dell..still didnt work....my cable modem

was

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>> > trashed also.
>> > Anyways..word to the wise...those 10 dollar surge protectors DO

NOT

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>> > work...you have to get a better surge protector. I heard those

battery

Quoted message said:

>> > backup ones are the way to go.
>> >
>> > Jim
>>
>>
>> Can't you read boy??
>>
>> If you could, you would realize that your experience with Dell

computers

Quoted message said:

>is
>> similar to other dell owners.
>>
>> And how were the accents with your technical help?
>>
>>
>stfu
>
That'll be you straight into the "bozo bin"!! ;o)

Ugh! It's Monday!! ;o(

Unfortunately I think I might still be there - of course we know he only
'pretend' killfiles

Frankly speaking we should not refer to the old "alleged Killfiles"
surely Earnest!! ;o)

Ugh! It's Monday - almost time for my workout, then it will all be
OK!!

OK, I get it. You can be Frank while I'll be Ernest. Surely.

On Mon, 13 Jun 2005 12:25:03 GMT, "David" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

"Charles" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On Mon, 13 Jun 2005 09:49:54 GMT, "David" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

"Charles" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
> On Mon, 13 Jun 2005 01:11:04 GMT, "David" <[email hidden]>
> wrote:
>
> >
> >"Lee Michaels" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
> >news:[email hidden]...
> >>
> >> "JimR" <jremick@comcast> wrote in message
> >> news:[email hidden]...
> >> > Lightning.Florida.been without a comp for a couple weeks. Went
through
> >> > hell with Dell..I had 5 days left on my warranty so they replaced

the

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> >> > motherboard and power thingy(the unit with the fan)...still didnt
> >> > work...so I bought a new Dell..still didnt work....my cable modem

was

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> >> > trashed also.
> >> > Anyways..word to the wise...those 10 dollar surge protectors DO

NOT

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> >> > work...you have to get a better surge protector. I heard those
battery
> >> > backup ones are the way to go.
> >> >
> >> > Jim
> >>
> >>
> >> Can't you read boy??
> >>
> >> If you could, you would realize that your experience with Dell
computers
> >is
> >> similar to other dell owners.
> >>
> >> And how were the accents with your technical help?
> >>
> >>
> >stfu
> >
> That'll be you straight into the "bozo bin"!! ;o)
>
> Ugh! It's Monday!! ;o(

Unfortunately I think I might still be there - of course we know he only
'pretend' killfiles

Frankly speaking we should not refer to the old "alleged Killfiles"
surely Earnest!! ;o)

Ugh! It's Monday - almost time for my workout, then it will all be
OK!!

OK, I get it. You can be Frank while I'll be Ernest. Surely.

If I can be Frank, why are you calling me Shirley, Earnest? ;o)

I feel better for my workout!! Roll on Friday!! ;o)

What a surge protector does and what the UPS from APC does
are both plain wrong. Surge protector was accurately
described earlier. No ground (such as with so many
ineffective plug-in protectors) means the protector provides a
transient more destructive paths through the adjacent
appliance.

The protection inside the APC 'power conditioner' is the
same circuit; does same thing. How does one know? Both power
strip and APC are rated in joules - because they both have the
same protection circuit.

Meanwhile, brownouts are not destructive to electronics. I
have been designing and debugging this stuff for too many
decades to fall for that myth. Low voltage can cause digital
electronics to become confused. And therefore digital
electronics all have circuits to cut off (shutdown, power
down, etc) when voltage falls too low - without damage.

Effective transient protection is located where utilities
enter the building so that protection already inside the
computer is not overwhelmed. Anything that would work on it's
power cord is already inside the computer. That APC UPS is
for data protection. Data - not hardware - can be damaged by
low voltages - blackouts and brownouts.

Never seen an APC product that even claims the lightning
protection advocated here. The APC product line does not
even claim to protect from typically destructive transients.
So they pretend that other and destructive transient does not
exist. Effective protectors from responsible brand name
manufacturers that cost less money were defined in an earlier
post.

spodosaurus said:

JimR said:

Lightning.Florida.been without a comp for a couple weeks. Went through hell
with Dell..I had 5 days left on my warranty so they replaced the motherboard
and power thingy(the unit with the fan)...still didnt work...so I bought a
new Dell..still didnt work....my cable modem was trashed also.
Anyways..word to the wise...those 10 dollar surge protectors DO NOT
work...you have to get a better surge protector. I heard those battery
backup ones are the way to go.

Jim

No surge protector is going to halt a bolt of lightning, Jim. They will,
however, kill everything attached to them by giving the lightning more
devices to burn up from the single point. Basically, aside from have
some serious electrical work done on your place, the best defence is a
good backup policy and home contents insurance that covers such
instances. I'm surprised Dell helped at all, unless you purchased some
sort of extra special warranty from them they are not responsible for
repairing your computer in the event of fire, flood, or in this case
lightning strike.

That said, power conditioning appliances like those from APC can improve
computer function and longevity, but that depends on your home wiring
and the power grid you're on. Brownouts kill more hard drives than surges.

Cheers,

Ari

--
spammage trappage: replace fishies_ with yahoo

I'm going to die rather sooner than I'd like. I tried to protect my
neighbours from crime, and became the victim of it. Complications in
hospital following this resulted in a serious illness. I now need a bone
marrow transplant. Many people around the world are waiting for a marrow
transplant, too. Please volunteer to be a marrow donor:
http://www.abmdr.org.au/
http://www.marrow.org/

w_tom said:

Never seen an APC product that even claims the lightning
protection advocated here.

Work on reading comprehension, tom: nowhere did I claim anything of the
sort.

--
spammage trappage: replace fishies_ with yahoo

I'm going to die rather sooner than I'd like. I tried to protect my
neighbours from crime, and became the victim of it. Complications in
hospital following this resulted in a serious illness. I now need a bone
marrow transplant. Many people around the world are waiting for a marrow
transplant, too. Please volunteer to be a marrow donor:
http://www.abmdr.org.au/
http://www.marrow.org/

Spodosaurus is correct. He did not claim the APC 'power
conditioner' provides lightning protection. And I never said
he made that claim. Spodosaurus stated that "No surge
protector is going to halt a bolt of lightning". Even
protectors that do protect from lightning do not claim to
'halt' lightning. And this is a discussion about computer
damage due to lightning. What plug-in power conditioner halts
lightning?

The APC power conditioner recommendation does provide data
protection. But it does not provide hardware protection from
blackouts and brownouts. Brownouts and blackouts (which are
also created when power is normally turned off) do not damage
electronic appliances - as industry standards of 30 years ago
demand. This a point made beyond context of this thread.

The APC product does claim surge protection - but forgets to
mention which type of surge it protects from. Typical of
plug-in protectors, APC would actually have a consumer believe
their product will stop, block, or absorb a bolt of
lightning. They hope the OP believes his Dell could have been
protected by that APC power conditioner. Both spodosaurus and
I define that myth as false. In a discussion about a
lightning damaged computer, protection from an APC power
conditioner is irrelevant - not an effective solution.

Meanwhile lightning bolts need not be destructive.
Effective solutions do exist. The APC power conditioner does
not accomplish a task that is the subject of this discussion.
A properly earthed 'whole house' protector would provide that
protection. Again, this is a discussion about lightning
damaged computers. Even the APC power conditioner does not
claim to provide protection as spodosaurus posted:

Quoted message said:

No surge protector is going to halt a bolt of lightning

Its function is to protect data from blackouts and
brownouts.

spodosaurus said:

w_tom said:

Never seen an APC product that even claims the lightning
protection advocated here.

Work on reading comprehension, tom: nowhere did I claim anything
of the sort.

I did allude to having some electrical work done to the house in terms
of lightning protection, but you put it better with the term "'whole
house' protector". How much would it cost to have one of these installed
(generally) and would it be cost effective in terms of paying for
insurance to replace damaged components over the years (which I thought
home and contents insurance did anyway)? I think we can both agree that
a good backup strategy is important regardless (even if you're protected
from a lightning strike, a thief can still walk off with your computer,
among other potential causes for data loss).

Cheers,

Ari

w_tom said:

Spodosaurus is correct. He did not claim the APC 'power
conditioner' provides lightning protection. And I never said
he made that claim. Spodosaurus stated that "No surge
protector is going to halt a bolt of lightning". Even
protectors that do protect from lightning do not claim to
'halt' lightning. And this is a discussion about computer
damage due to lightning. What plug-in power conditioner halts
lightning?

The APC power conditioner recommendation does provide data
protection. But it does not provide hardware protection from
blackouts and brownouts. Brownouts and blackouts (which are
also created when power is normally turned off) do not damage
electronic appliances - as industry standards of 30 years ago
demand. This a point made beyond context of this thread.

The APC product does claim surge protection - but forgets to
mention which type of surge it protects from. Typical of
plug-in protectors, APC would actually have a consumer believe
their product will stop, block, or absorb a bolt of
lightning. They hope the OP believes his Dell could have been
protected by that APC power conditioner. Both spodosaurus and
I define that myth as false. In a discussion about a
lightning damaged computer, protection from an APC power
conditioner is irrelevant - not an effective solution.

Meanwhile lightning bolts need not be destructive.
Effective solutions do exist. The APC power conditioner does
not accomplish a task that is the subject of this discussion.
A properly earthed 'whole house' protector would provide that
protection. Again, this is a discussion about lightning
damaged computers. Even the APC power conditioner does not
claim to provide protection as spodosaurus posted:

Quoted message said:

No surge protector is going to halt a bolt of lightning

Its function is to protect data from blackouts and
brownouts.

spodosaurus said:

w_tom said:

Never seen an APC product that even claims the lightning
protection advocated here.

Work on reading comprehension, tom: nowhere did I claim anything
of the sort.

--
spammage trappage: replace fishies_ with yahoo

I'm going to die rather sooner than I'd like. I tried to protect my
neighbours from crime, and became the victim of it. Complications in
hospital following this resulted in a serious illness. I now need a bone
marrow transplant. Many people around the world are waiting for a marrow
transplant, too. Please volunteer to be a marrow donor:
http://www.abmdr.org.au/
http://www.marrow.org/

On Tue, 14 Jun 2005 00:34:28 GMT, Joe Humble <[email hidden]>
wrote in misc.fitness.weights:

Quoted message said:

w_tom said:

The $10 protectors is electrically equivalent to the $100
protector AND equivalent to the battery backup protector.
Protection is not the protector. An effective protection must
connect to something different - the protection. How to
identify ineffective protectors: 1) no dedicated connection
less than 10 feet to earth ground AND 2) manufacturer avoids
all mention of earthing.

Effective protection, what it does, and why earthing is so
essential was defined previously in "Pull the wall plug or
not?" in nz.comp on 7 Sept 2004 at
http://tinyurl.com/5ttwl

Effective 'whole house' protectors are sold in Home Depot
and Lowes. Effective protectors have brand names of
reputation such as Intermatic, Leviton, Square D, GE, Siemens,
Cutler Hammer, Polyphaser, Furse, etc. What was the brand
name on that protector that has no earth ground connection?
Effective 'whole house' protectors costs about $1 per
protected appliance. How much for the undersized, overhyped,
ineffective protector (ie. from Monster Cable) that so often
promoted in electronic discount stores? $80 per ... ? 80
times more money for a protector that does not even claim
effective protection.

Defined is an effective secondary protection system. Your
primary protection system also requires inspection:
http://www.tvtower.com/fpl.html

Notice what every effective protection 'system' involves.
Not big bucks. Not in a plug-in UPS. A protector is only as
effective as its earth ground - which ineffective protectors
don't want to discuss. Visit that above cited, previous
discussion.

Never once in my whole life every had anything destroyed by lightning.
I also never heard of anyone I know losing anything to lightning. I
do hear warnings about it a lot, however.

I'm thinking it is pretty rare to actually have stuff destroyed by
lightning.

And you are in Flushing, NY, which doesn't get anywhere near the
amount of lightening like Jim gets in Florida which is the lightening
capital of the world.