The Apple eMac is very similar to the original iMac, featuring a G4 processor but a larger 17-inch monitor. Apple recently recently added AU$200 to the price of its iMac range reinforcing the value of the eMac.
An eMac priced at AU$2,344 includes a 700 MHz G4 processor, 128M of SDRAM, CD-RW/DVD-ROM Combo optical drive, 40G ATA hard drive. An equivalent iMac system with a smaller 15-inch monitor costs around AU$3,695.
However, the consumer market won't get a bite at it; it's available to the educational institutions, staff and students, exclusively.
Apple maintains that a give-them-what-they-want philosophy is driving the eMac but concedes that they've faced some tough competition from competitors in the education market.
"We're very strong in NSW but we are challenged in the other markets," an Apple spokesperson said. "I think this particular product will help us re-cement our position, because we do have a traditional stronghold on education".
And it won't be testing the eMac in any other market to see if that's what the broader consumer market wants.
"We want to concentrate on the flat-panel iMac for the consumer market at this stage," the spokesperson said.
Apple claims it's already receiving interest from the education sector.
"A few of our education customers have already seen the news report and we have been getting calls through to our education side of our Apple Store," the spokesperson said.
