Q: Power strips have gotten so inexpensive now, that I don't trust their surge protection circuits really work. How do I keep my computer safe?
A: They work....but the cheaper ones don't offer a huge level of protection. Cheap surge protectors are fine for cheap and easily replaceable equipment, but if you are spending thousands on a home entertainment system, then you better pony up for a damn good surge protector. Some of the better ones are in the $60+ range. The best ones can get upwards of over $1,000, however, only professional equipment require such a high investment. The better ones make it a point to advertise how many joules of an electric surge it can handle and offer a monetary guarantee for anything connected to it. They will also clean the power flowing through to your devices to give you better picture and/or sound. You should be more concerned with how protected are you if a surge manages to pass through than whether or not they work. Here is decent surge protector that will also clean the power flowing through it. It also has $150,000 connected equipment warranty: http://www.amazon.com/Monster-MP-HTS850-Theater-PowerCenter/dp/B00006343O/ref=sr_1_19?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1215102517&sr=1-19