The eMac delivers an attractive, adequately speedy, easy-to-use PC without the flat-panel iMac's relatively high price, making it a good value for students and undemanding home users.
It didn't take Apple long to move the eMac from the education market to general availability. And why not? It offers an appealing midrange choice--one with a bigger display than the original iMac but with a lower price than the flat-panel iMac. Although it's bulkier than both and not any faster, the bigger view is worth it for both students and consumers.
iMac in disguise
The AU$2,395 consumer eMac comes in a single configuration, with internals that match the flat-panel iMac's: a 700MHz G4 processor; 128MB of RAM; an integrated 32MB Nvidia GeForce2 MX graphics chip; a 40GB hard drive; a 24X/10X/32X CD- RW drive; and built-in stereo speakers. As a result, on our performance tests, the eMac performs roughly the same as its iMac sibling. In everyday use, the eMac seems reasonably peppy, but its paltry 128MB of RAM isn't enough to get the best performance out of Mac OS X.
As with the iMacs', the eMac's expandability is limited to a RAM upgrade (up to 1GB) or an AirPort card. To compensate, it has plenty of external connectivity: one modem, one 10/100 Ethernet, three USB, and two FireWire ports. A video-out connector lets you hook up to an external VGA display; however, you need an adapter, and it can only mirror the first, not expand your desktop. For audio, you get a headphone jack and an input jack.
The snow-white, tapered design has its trade-offs. The integrated 17-inch, flat, CRT display is noticeably brighter and crisper than the 15-inch model still used in the original iMac, and it gives you an inch more of viewable area than the flat-panel iMac. The display's standard resolution is 1,024x768, but its maximum 1,280x960 also looks fine. The price you pay for the bigger display is portability. The eMac is nearly an inch bigger in height and width (but the same depth) as the original iMac and weighs almost 23 kilograms. However, Apple didn't provide side handles to make lifting or moving it easier. Also, the power switch, which sits behind the ports, is hard to find. And if you want to tilt or swivel the eMac, you'll have to spring for an optional AU$125 stand.
Typical of an Apple PC, the eMac is extremely easy to set up, but 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 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.
The eMac brings some balance to the consumer Macintosh lineup. It delivers an attractive, adequately speedy, easy-to-use PC without the original iMac's small display or the flat-panel iMac's relatively high price. It's a good value for students with a midsized budget and consumers with mainstream needs.
Apple eMac
Company: Apple Australia
Price: AU$2,395
Phone: 13 36 22
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