The Hindu : National : UPS model its users can flaunt

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jan 07, 2007
ePaper

National

National

UPS model its users can flaunt

Special Correspondent

Totally designed and manufactured in India

— Photo: Special Arrangement

POWERING COMPUTERS: The latest version of UPS for PCs. — Photo: Special Arrangement

Bangalore: Remember the famous TISCO advertisement slogan of yesteryear? It said: ``We also make steel!,'' modestly relegating its core business to an almost casual mention, amidst other worthwhile achievements. The latest version of the Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) for personal computers, launched by WeP Peripherals, a Wipro group company, might very well adopt a tag line which says, ``we also power your PC!''

They have taken, what is a boring, but essential accessory to computing — something that most of us shove under the table, where it gathers dust or serves as a footrest — and added a host of useful functions that PC users will now want to put it on their desk top.

Totally designed and manufactured in India, the ``Top.UPS'' in its core function is a 600 volt-ampere, 360-watt power source with fairly standard features, enough to keep your PC working when the mains supply goes off, for anything between 7 and 20 minutes depending on your computer and the monitor size. What WeP has done, is to put in additional functionality that uses the readily available DC battery power: A pivoted lamp can be directed at the keyboard, so that one can continue to type in darkness.

The built-in digital clock and socket for charging your mobile phone will be welcomed by those whose desktop is always crowded. The unspectacular standard box shape of the UPS has `morphed' into a curvy, colourful, new shape, which is grooved to carry a few CD or DVD covers — so useful when most PCs have a drive to play them.

``We listened to what customers had on their wish list — then tried to combine the basic functions with strong aesthetics and ergonomics, to create a product that they will be proud to not just use, but display,'' Wep Peripherals Chief Executive Ram Agarwal told The Hindu .

While the MRP of the Top.UPS is Rs. 5,000 — which makes it somewhat pricier than standard UPS models of this rating available in India — the company is selling it till end February at an introductory price of Rs. 3,500, Marketing Manager Ramdin Sangasaiawi said.

You won't find too many buyers, pushing this UPS out of sight, under the desk!

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National