[ikk157]

Thx @ikk157.  I agree.  At least we have power. But maybe it looks better than it really is. The part that is super frustrating for me personally is they don't keep to their schedules.  Like more as a rule than the exception.  For example, the schedule may say 8 to 10:30 a.m.  The electricity doesnt' go off at 8 a.m.  So one would think by 8:30 a.m. you're OK to use your computer, except then the power goes off at 10:00 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.  Totally unplanned.  So I've learned to wait until an actual loadshedding event takes place - ignoring schedules - and then to immediately after the power has come back on again - and only then - power on my computer.  Assuming that the next load shedding may take a few hours to occur.  The communication and implementation of the schedules are a nightmare for those depending on it.  So I've psyched myself to focus away from schedules and only work with when it happens.  Bottom line to NEVER have my computer equipment turned on when a load shedding event occurs.

Another BIG negative is that the WiFi Towers of the cellular and internet service providers can't always reload to the maximum until the next load shedding event.  So if this goes on for longer than three days, it effects both cell phones and internet use very negatively.  It also has a very bad effect on the battery supply of alarm systems - a real problem in South Africa with its huge crime.  You can't imagine the demand for new batteries and all of the load on security companies to install it.  Security is also at a risk as in many cases when the electricity turns back on, the alarm goes off creating false alerts for the security companies and owners to deal with.  

The load shedding is very tough on appliances - particularly older ones.  So many people have had to go to additional expenditure one can't really think about related to load shedding.  Also on top of Covid 19 when people have become very reliant on Internet this is a double whammy.

But you're right.  At least there is still electricity available.  

 You know, this is true.  I only discovered for the first time yesterday when I was writing my post and studying that one power alternative I posted, that a desktop computer takes four times as many Watts as a laptop. Wow!  

BUT - I don't only do Internet on my desktop.  I also watch TV programmes and movies.  I love my computer monitor.  I'm unemployed - so my desktop is being used much more than just a computer.  I did try to use my laptop (which I normally only use when I travel) during load shedding times, but the battery is old (2012 Toshiba), and wow, when I watch a movie it drains the battery like crazy.  So possibly not good for watching movies.  Unless I get a new battery, which I should in any case.

But yes, it would have been nice to get something new.  I must say I miss the UAE where computers are so readily available at great prices and so many brands to pick from.  Or better yet going for a no brand computer put together in a boutique computer maintenance shop in a back alley out of the best of all parts at rock bottom prices.  I miss that very much.

That said, I do love my computer.  I'm able to use it with cheap Bose speakers I purchased when I was in Canada last year with a beautiful sound and for me it will take a lot to get to change me to working on a laptop on a daily basis.

I understood the inverter device vs battery pack as you explained it, from the literature I found yesterday.  Like the cheap inverter plus power unit just givse you the opportunity to shut your computer down - so they are actually expensive.  Also pretty useless as you may not be around at home when the load shedding event occurs.  So the only type of "load shedding power unit" that would work would be one that is around 8000 US$ plus.  It then becomes a mill stone around your neck, as you have to take care of the batteries to keep them alive during extended periods when there is no load shedding.  I like to live minimally, like the minimum of furniture and appliances, and a unit like that could have the potential of turning into a white elephant - a very expensive one - that carries dust eventually.

Nope.  It never will.  The load shedding has been around from 2008.  It was supposed to be for just a short while. It's become permanent and is getting worse.  However, last year again, they found a new super duper CEO to try and bale every one out.  He is of Dutch descent - de Ruyter.  And very straight.  Telling people as it is that it's going to take a long time before they have sorted out the power supply situation to meet the demand.  And of course when politics go south here, he may lose his job or resign out of frustration or exasperation.  It's been going on like that since 2008 with corrupt senior manager coming and going with scandals surrounding them and the lack of supply in the meanwhile becoming collateral damage and highly politicized.

After the apartheid Government was replaced around 1993, there was a very aggressive policy of replacing all white skilled personnel at the power stations (qualified and trained engineers) with non-white personnel whether trained or not, or whether skilled or not.  Right down from senior management level to apprentice level.  There used to be a great system before of apprentices trained through technical colleges on a 6-month training at college and 6-month training on the job apprentice system that was completely canned.  On the new management system, you found managers who were completely untrained - i.e. not engineers with no interest in electricity - running projects of which equipment that was purchased did not fit with the power station specs.  Lots of corruption took place with pilfering like when a member of family of a senior purchasing manager would start a company and then tender for products from companies who provide payments in exchange for providing products regardless of whether they were suitable for the machinery. And actually was responsible for damaging very expensive equipment. That was allowed to go on for 15 years until everything was worn out, there was no longer the ability to provide full supply and load shedding started in January 2008.  And then it was too late.  Most of the skilled people have been axed or left because it became too impossible to stay, and are now working on lucrative contracts in the Middle East, in Africa, and as far away as the Philippines.  You now have the power supply company become a shell of unskilled people who cannot be sacked because they are protected by a union who has threatened many times to sabotage the power stations if their people are touched.  Most of those people are unskilled. So billions of rand are going into salaries of human resources that are untrained and not contributing to the bottom line.  

Worse, some people aren't paying for their electricity.  They don't even have meters.  The practice started in 1993 and unfortunately now that the Government wants to get that to change, those used to not paying for electricity refuse to do that, and can also not be touched.  Then there is also the case of unfair pricing.  For example, electricity is supplied to a neighbouring country, Mozambique, at cheaper prices, politically, because of a terrorist (Islamic extremist) insurgence in the North of the country and trying to keep it going with electricity as it will be a risk to get those insurgents to take over the country.  I see that getting worse.
https://www.theafricareport.com/35435/mo...e-stopped/

What de Ruyter (the CEO of the power supply company) is now trying to do is getting the very large power stations "fixed", which sounds easy.  But those enormous giant kettles that typically come with a power station and have been damaged with faulty equipment or faulty low grade coal that is not suited for the station (lots of corrupt deals involved here as well), need to be imported from overseas - and Covid 19 happened.  So they still have to be purchased and installed by skilled engineers that will in all probability be supplied by the supplier at top dollar prices since there is a grave shortage of skilled engineers at the power stations.  In the meanwhile the power stations that are supplying the present demand may go down at any time as they are not ahead of maintenance.  There is no spare capacity to allow a station to go down for proper scheduled maintenance except for emergency repair.  Catch 22!

So you see, nothing is as "simple" and as straightforward in power supply as it is in the Middle East. But we still have electricity. 

Wow wow wow, I’m absolutely speechless. It’s literally a true mess over there... so many issues colliding with each other constantly making matters worse. 

Ive heard from many of my South African colleagues that the system over there is insanely messed up. And the crime rates are insanely high. I’ve even been told that there’s a huge chance of getting shot on your way to/from the airport! That’s some true insanity! 

It’s truly sad that these issues are even impacting the most basic essentials, such as power. In the modern day an age where we heavily rely on electricity, we expect that we’d be provided with a reliable power source. It for sure does sound like a nightmare on your end not only when it comes to power outages, but the fact that they’re insanely unpredictable. 

As for replacing the battery on your old 2012 laptop, i dont think that would make a significant enough difference. Many laptops (specially the old ones) aren’t so power efficient. So even a healthy battery might not be able to power them for long. However, many (but not all! Beware!) modern laptops are so energy efficient they can last you an entire day, some even more! It solely depends on your budget, but i really recommend getting ahold of one (make sure to do your research first on getting one with great battery life and performance!). But again, it solely depends on your budget. You mentioned being unemployed, so I doubt that you’d have much to spend.

I also understand that you like to use your bigger monitor as it offers a much better experience. But keep on mind two things:

1) Some laptops come in screen sizes that are the same (some even bigger) as your “average monitor”. 

2) Most laptops have display outputs (such as HDMI) that allow you to hook them up to a monitor to get the full “desktop experience”. So that completely eliminates the point of a desktop. 

As for the pricing of electronic in general in the UAE, I’ve personally found it to be insanely expensive. Specially with their added VAT, I feel like buying electronics from there is very costly. If you want to buy something at its cheapest price, just buy it online from let’s say the US, and get it shipped to you through a courier service such as shopandship (they give you a US address, along with addresses from all over the world, where you have your bought item shipped to, and from there they’ll ship it to you... absolutely smart!).

The fact that you’d consider pricing of electronics in the UAE cheap really concerns me. That’s an indication that buying electronics in South Africa is significantly more expensive, i surely hope that’s not true. However, that’s also been something my South African colleagues hinted as they mentioned that they bought iPhones from here that are a fraction of the cost of an iPhone in South Africa. Insane!