Well said. The laptop's battery provides instant failover if the AC fails. And use a standard UPS to keep your modem/router going so you keep your internet connection.
The problem with that is that when you forget to turn off the main breaker, you are also backfeeding the Electric Co's line. I know you will never forget to shut off the main breaker but what about someone else in the house. High risk to reward ratio.
In my case, no one else knows where I keep my little adapter wire that provides the male end to male end gender changer that fits the gen set. Then there is the warning tag on the 220 breaker for the gen set that says turning it on while the main breaker is on will burn the house down. Security is 90% bluff.
Works like a charm, being it's simple and straight forward there's no real excuse to screw it up. But it's also easier to take the simple route and just plug in your computers/routers/refrigrators directly into the generator. This is what I'm talking about: and it's a high end one http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs...ooglebase-_-D25X-_-202048857&locStoreNum=2706
Forgetting to turn off the main breaker... write it on sharpie on the generator! This step is crucial, if you don't then you'll cause a problem because of a short via the generator and grid when it comes back on. If you're technically inept (I have a feeling most everyone isn't here), just plug your gear directly into the generator...
Also a UPS for desktops is a must IMO, even if you have a generator, it saves an incredible amount of time by not having to bring everything up http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicat...c.asp?CatId=20&name=Power Protection&inbeta=Y
If you're gonna spend thousands on a generator, spend the extra $500 to get an electrician to install a proper transfer switch with a subpanel. It's stupid to do a "Harry Homeowner" job wiring it in just to save a few hundred when you're spending thousands for something so important.
Yeah I agree... just saying, quick fix! BTW, 2kw generators (plenty for a computer and keeping food cold) are only a coupe hundred bucks at HD or Lowes.