See Star Trek: Generations for a good example of what the experience of this star exploding may be for us.
Take ~8.5 minutes to see anything anyway, then up to how long it takes the shockwave to hit us...
Be one helluva ride!
That was one thing I couldn't stand about 2061/3001, that Clarke never seems to account for any climate changes or planetary orbits in our system caused by Lucifer's birth/death...
After a millenia, something's gotta change!
(wasn't admitedly pertinent to the storyline though...)
Reminds me of the tests being conducted here in U.S. a coupla years back. Using a 'tron accelerator (proton? neutron? electron? what was it?), the tests were coming back done before they started. Some suggested they went back in time (oh yeah!
), but Occam's Razor suggests they simply just accelerated the 'tron past the speed of light.
So, what does it all mean? They dunno yet, though they did suggest NOT throwing away your microwave just yet.
As far as "big and violent" goes, well, you should see some footage of solar flares. A few years back cell phone service was knocked out for a while by 'em... Though more recent 'lites (including military ones, of course) are able to turn away and defend themselves against such 'wrath.'
But, it's an excellent reminder of how much we truly are at the mercy of all things natural...
In any event, Man's bound to destroy itself before that star has much chance to cause any significant damage anyway...
Shame I won't be around to witness either eventuality.