So the take home message is--
You should have a surge protector for your laser printer, plugged into a different circuit than your computer. The computer should have a separate surge protector/battery back up or UPS to allow one to shut down safely in the event of power failure. And this battery in the UPS has an average life of 3 years.
Please correct me if I am wrong. Also, all kinds of brands and options are available as described above.
