[Bob] once told me that the one I had [3rd Gen Smart UPS 315 ] was better than the newer ones [4th Gen SUA 3000 - 310b]. Is that still the case?
I responded
The 3rd generation units like yours were built in the US. APC was small and performance driven product. Costs of UPSes were minor in the IT world and they could afford to use the best labor and components. Around the time the 4th generation units were released in 2004, cost consciousness in IT had arrived. Outsourcing to the 3rd world, pricing pressures and many up starts forced APC to make cost concessions. Therefore these units were lower quality. Most people think after Schneider bought them in 07, did they go back to making better equipment.
Bottomline an unused 2003 SmartUPS like the one you have is a better product than today's 2011 SmartUPS. But, after 10 or so years of use that older 3rd gen unit cant be as good as even a poor quality newer one.
