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Entered CNET Catalog: 04/23/2004
SKU: M9461LL/A
Manufacturer: Apple Inc.
Manufacturer description
Offering the value and performance you're looking for, eMac offers a simple, clutter-free, all-in-one design and comes with everything you need for work and play - right out of the box. The award-winning suite of iLife applications - including GarageBand, the newest member of this digital tour-de-force. Mac OS X Panther, the latest version of Apple's 21st-century operating system. A powerful PowerPC G4 processor. A beautiful, crystal-clear 17-inch flat CRT display. Feeling creative? You don't have to search very far to find the tools you need. Just open your Applications folder, where you'll discover a true digital treasure trove: iTunes, iPhoto, iMovie, iDVD and GarageBand. Individually, the five iLife applications offer powerful yet easy-to-use options for purchasing and managing music, organizing digital photos, editing videos, creating your own top-ten tunes and authoring DVDs you can share with friends and family. But it's when you use them together that iLife really shines, providing a suite of tightly-integrated tools that work together seamlessly and place no limits on your talent or creativity. Take watching movies, for example. This model plays Hollywood's finest movies on DVD, and the DVD Player, an application included with Mac OS X Panther, is as easy to use as the remote controls in your living room. Because the eMac ships AirPort Extreme-ready, you can put your new eMac anywhere in the house, not just where the phone jack or broadband connection happens to be. You can order eMac with an AirPort Extreme Card already installed, or you can install it yourself. Once installed, the AirPort Extreme Card lets you wirelessly connect to the Internet or communicate with other computers using an optional AirPort Extreme Base Station. In fact, the AirPort Extreme Base Station can support up to 50 simultaneous users (Mac and PC), all sharing a single Internet connection. In addition to AirPort Extreme and Bluetooth, you'll also enjoy other top-of-the-line connectivity features. Every eMac comes with FireWire 400 and USB 2.0, making it easy to connect with a wide variety of peripherals, such as digital cameras, camcorders, printers, scanners and the new iPod mini. Both a Modem (56K v.92) and 100BASE-T Ethernet come built in, providing you with multiple options for communicating over the Internet. A Mini-VGA port lets you connect eMac to an external projector or TV set, a great option for presentations. And, thanks to the headphone jack, you can connect headphones or external speakers to eMac.Product summary
The good: Excellent 17-inch CRT display; easy setup; inexpensive, updated models offer 1.25GHz G4s with 256MB of memory.
The bad: Limited expansion; only 32MB of graphics memory; meager documentation; mediocre warranty.
The bottom line: The eMac delivers an attractive, adequately speedy, easy-to-use PC without the flat-panel iMac's relatively high price.
CNET editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 06/10/2004
The eMac's larger display comes at a price not found in the updated iMacs: portability. The design is nearly an inch bigger in height and width (but the same depth) as the original iMac, and it weighs almost 50 pounds. However, Apple doesn't provide side handles to make it easier to lift or move; the original iMac at least featured a handle on top for convenient carrying. Carrying the eMac feels like a dangerous proposition; it's tough to find purchase on those slippery, rounded sides.
Though you can't expand the eMac much, Apple compensates with plenty of external connectivity: one modem, one 10/100 Ethernet, three USB 2.0, and two FireWire 400 ports, all in a neat little row along the right side. A video-out connector lets you hook up to an external VGA display. However, you'll need a $19 adapter, and even then, you can only mirror the first monitor, you can't expand your desktop. For audio, you get a headphone jack and an input jack.
We noticed a few awkward touches on the eMac's otherwise simple design. The power switch, which sits behind the ports on the lower-right side, nearly to the butt of the machine, is hard to find and difficult to reach. Also, you can't adjust the eMac's display. If you want to tilt or swivel the view for better ergonomics, you'll have to spring for an optional $59 stand. Selecting a configuration used to be a nonissue with the eMac, but the line is now up to two choices. The $799 base model (updated in May 2004) offers a 1.25GHz PowerPC G4 processor, 256MB of SDRAM, a 40GB hard drive, a combo (DVD-ROM/CD-RW) drive, a 32MB ATI 9200 graphics card, a 56Kbps modem, 10/100 networking, USB 2.0 and FireWire ports, and Mac OS X 10.3.3 Panther. The $999 model offers a 1.25GHz G4, 256MB of RAM, an 80GB hard drive, and a 4X DVD-recording SuperDrive (an internal DVD-R/CD-RW drive).
As with the iMac, the eMac's expandability is limited to a RAM upgrade (up to 1GB) or a new, 802.11g AirPort Extreme card. That makes the eMac a poor choice for gamers, who'll want better graphics performance, or for anyone who likes to add and remove components. But the eMac suffices nicely if you're just looking to get online, write some papers, send and receive e-mail, or balance your books.
The eMac ships with Mac OS X 10.3.3 Panther preinstalled, including the digital media suite iLife, plus the calendar application iCal; iSync for syncing up Palm OS devices and cell phones; Quicken 2003 and Word Book 2003; and the AppleWorks office suite. Application performance
Apple has brought the eMac up to speed with a 1.25GHz G4 processor, and our test system performed on a par with similarly configured iMacs. Of the two available models, the higher-end $999 eMac we tested compares favorably to both the 17-inch and 20-inch iMacs in terms of application performance. All three systems feature the same 1.25GHz G4 processor, 256MB of 333MHz RAM, 80GB hard drive, and SuperDrive. The eMac lacks the iMacs' LCD and employs a 32MB ATI Radeon 9200 graphics card, while the iMacs feature a 64MB Nvidia GeForce 5200 Ultra.
With only half the graphics memory of each of the iMacs, the eMac was still able to keep pace with the 20-inch iMac and actually outperform the 17-inch iMac, thanks to its more recent version of Mac OS X (10.3.3). All three systems performed equally well on our iTunes test, taking just less than one minute to encode a large audio file as an MP3. In the end, the differences in application performance were so slight that they're not likely to be noticeable in everyday use.
CNET Labs uses two different applications (iMovie and iTunes) to test Apple desktop performance. Through the use of a number of timing tests CNET Labs is able to roughly determine the performance of a given system.
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System configurations:
17-inch Apple iMac
Mac OS X 10.2.7; 1.25GHz Power PC G4; 256MB DDR SDRAM 333MHz; Nvidia GeForce FX 5200 64MB; 80GB 7,200rpm Ultra ATA/100
20-inch Apple iMac
Mac OS X 10.3.2; 1.25GHz PowerPC G4; 256MB DDR SDRAM 333MHz; Nvidia GeForce FX 5200 64MB; 80GB 7,200rpm Ultra ATA/100
Apple eMac G4 1.25GHz
Mac OS X 10.3.3; 1.25GHz Power PC G4; 256MB DDR SDRAM 333MHz; ATI Radeon 9200 32MB; 80GB 7,200rpm Ultra ATA/100 As with most Apple PCs, the eMac sets up in record time--you just plug it in, turn it on, and follow a few wizards--but its documentation is sparse. A foldout brochure depicts the initial hookup process, and the 40-page, illustrated user guide covers the basics of the Mac OS and some simple troubleshooting. It also shows you how to add RAM or an AirPort 802.11b card, but if you need more guidance, you'll have to check the eMac's help menus or Apple's Web site.
If you need other assistance, you'll find yourself on the self-service road. Apple's service-and-support policy remains subpar compared to what you find in the rest of the PC world. The warranty covers parts and labor for the standard one year, but it includes only 90 days of toll-free technical support. AppleCare's three-year extension costs $149. Apple's Web site is the consolation prize, packed with FAQs, a knowledge base, technical support, and an active message board. The only drawback is that even after you've paid for your support package, you still have to register for the free, online AppleCare services to take advantage of all of the options. It's a minor hassle, but it's a hassle nevertheless. We found the eMac to be simple enough to use and set up, however, that you shouldn't have much need to consult tech support.
User opinions
Select a User Opinion to view: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 User Rating: 
10/10
fantastic computer almost everything about it is perfect.
Pros: Great all in one case. its sturdy as hell heavy but just great. not at all slow by todays standards even though its a few years old.
Cons: Ram is a bit sluggish and the same goes for the disc drive. only 3 usb ports and only 1.1 on the keyboard. akward to carry and hard to upgrade.
User Rating: 
1/10
Good for your money BUT You get what you pay for..
Pros: Advance os, inexpensive, good performance
Cons: low quality hardware, bad customer service
User Rating: 10/10
Once you go Mac you'll never go back
Pros: NO viruses, NO adware, NO spyware, just plain NO hassle
Cons: Should come with at least 512 MB RAM
The eMac is a great machine for the price. I am extremely happy with mine, as I am with all of my Apple products.
User Rating: 
8/10
For the family that wants an entertainment appliance
Pros: Attractive, easy-to-use operating system that suits multiple people sharing the computer. The bundled applications constitute the best software available for typical family requirements, and are much better than the software typically bundled with a compu
Cons: Given that games typically form a major use for a home computer, the 3D graphics card should be better.
User Rating: 10/10
great machine for 90% of computer users
Pros: all-in-one design- no clutter, no cables. Mac OS- outstanding, stable, easy to learn and use, no virus worrys, will do most everything you want to do on a computer.
Cons: Not for "serious" gaming (16 year old boys, or those who act like they are- you know who I mean- the Halo crowd). Styling- not one of my fav Macs for style- sort of a basic machine-its an apple marketing thing.
User Rating: 
9/10
My first Mac
Pros: Ease of use and setup. I purchased this machine for my kids. They have been using PCs for about 5 years now and wanted to get them a new one. Why not a Mac. The eMac works great for all the stuff they want to do. Installed more RAM, and can run Offic
Cons: Needs more out of the box ram. So far that is about all.
User Rating: 10/10
1st time Mac owner and loving it
Pros: This computer is incredible. I recommend superdrive. iLife programs are absolutely perfect. One you go Mac, you'll never go back.
Cons: speakers stink if your using computer for main music source. I recommend SoundSticks II. They're incredible.
User Rating: 8/10
Very skeptical at first. Not now though!
Pros: Smaller footprint than most PCs, very low security maintenance - no viruses or spyware threats. Replaced two PCs at our office for a 'trial'. Passed the trial and have enabled me to spend more time doing proper sysadmin work, rather than patching, patchin
Cons: Could put the likes of me out of work... Heavy to lug around. Non with the OS - Mac OS X is just exquisite.
User Rating: 8/10
From a 1st time Mac owner.
Pros: I bought this because I got interested in Apple after buying an iPod. I was so sick of Microsoft. Always having updates "promised" in the next O.S. release. The "this program has performed an illegal operaton and must shut down" BS. I just use my eMac
Cons: Should come with 512 meg ram at least. Should have at least 64mb video card instead of 32mb. But 32 mb is fine if you're not into computer games.
User Rating: 10/10
How I love Apples
Pros: the nest computer for kids and student on a budget on of apples great product
Cons: i am a pc user and will die for a mac
