Their press releases tout these advantages
- Increased intelligence that makes management and monitoring easier
- Increased efficiency that saves on utility costs
- Increased control with ability to configure locally or via software and switched receptacle groups
- Increased resilience with better diagnostic capabilities and improved warranty
Obviously, 1 and 3 have been desperately needed for awhile now, but 2 and 4 are a bit optimistic.
Increased efficiency alledged comes from the better handling of voltage regulation without using the energy intensive transformers. Even APC admits this might only save 1-4%. Hardly a “green” product.
As for resilience and batter warranty. I don’t know about all units, but increasing from 2 to 3 years is still just the industry standard and not really that notable. Further, with this new “Smart” LCD screen telling you how many days you have left before you need to change the battery, it sounds like a good racket to make you buy batteries before you need them
Anyway, we cant wait for the 5th generation of SmartUPS units to be fully rolled out. APC needed this new launch to counter the dramatic improvements that Powerware and Tripplite have made in the last few years.
For more info here is their Youtube peppy video
And their press thingy
