Editorial Review

As the most affordable products in the entire Apple roster of desktop computers, eMacs are not intended for sophisticated applications where power and versatility are paramount. They are, however, just fine for general day-to-day tasks such as word processing, personal finances, Internet surfing, email and light gaming/entertainment. They’re also small enough to fit comfortably on virtually any desk or table, no matter how cluttered it might be. This model, the Apple eMac Desktop 17-inch M8951LL/B, offers twice the RAM and twice the hard disk space of the entry-level eMac, and is also equipped with a DVD recorder. Read more

Reviews (11)

A great computer... Mac or Otherwise
Like many who have written reviews before me, I am a switcher.Acutally, that's not entirely accurate, as I was a long-time Mac user prior to 1997.My last two machines were PCs running Windows 95 and XP, respectively. Don't buy this
1 GHz[.] ATI 7500 graphics[.]This system is 2-3 years out of date.If you are on a budget buy a P4 based system.If you have the money buy a nice G5 based system with 512M of RAM.This computer is something you would buy for a 5 year old.

The eMac is a winner!
First of all I'm a switcher. I came over to the Mac side with the purchase of this 1Ghz Emac with superdrive. I have since sold my windows PC and am forever a Mac-Head now. The first thing to know about this machine is that there is SOME fan noise but it certainly isn't a major issue. It's just a light drone not unlike what a fridge may sound like. If the noise is that big of a concern, I would get an iMac with a flat panel display. I heard those things are silent. Read more

Editorial Review

As the most affordable products in the entire Apple roster of desktop computers, eMacs are not intended for sophisticated applications where power and versatility are paramount. They are, however, just fine for general day-to-day tasks such as word processing, personal finances, Internet surfing, e-mail and contact management. They’re also small enough to fit comfortably on virtually any desk or table, no matter how cluttered it might be. This model, the eMac Desktop 17-inch M9252LL/A, is the entry-level eMac and therefore the most basic desktop Apple manufactures. Read more

Reviews (13)

Easy to use and very capable
I written reviews for these eMacs before and most of what was said is still true. It is a great starter machine for those interested in trying out Apple's computers (and the nearly crashproof/ viris-free OS/X operating system). Don't buy this machine if you expect to upgrade it later. The processor is not swappable. You can expand the memory, add an Airport wireless network card (still the easiest and the standard the other networking companies can only aspire to), and put in a bigger hard drive. That's about it. However, there's not a whole lot you NEED to add. Nice Machine, and the Price Is Right
I have setup and worked quite a bit with this Apple product, although this is not my everyday machine. In short, this is a nice computer, and non-geek users will love how easy it is to setup and use for most tasks. Behind the times
This system has spec way too low for today's software.Why buy something you will have to replace next year?Step up to something with more memory and a faster cpu (for example you need 128MB *just* to load office!).You will be sorry if you order this system. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Affordable, easy to use and surprisingly diminutive, Apple's new eMac series of desktop computers meshes well with situations where space is at a premium and the user is not necessarily a computing expert. It is therefore a particularly good fit in the elementary or high school classroom. In fact, Apple has designed the system with this function in mind. The mid-level model of the eMac roster is the eMac Desktop 17" M8950LL/A, a smartly priced yet capable unit that's ready for the unique conditions of a multi-user educational environment.Read more

Reviews (6)

Switched and how!
My wife is a translator who works at home and I am a freelance writer, teacher, and programmer.We both have used PCs for a LONG time.Her Win 98SE machine was never great and between the lock-ups and random shutdowns never really let her work comfortably.She had even adapted a habit of saving after every line of translated text so as not to lose too much when it crashed.Anyway, her computer was getting on in age and we started thinking about a replacement.I had an XP Home machine but it wasn't too hot either with all it's nasty security bugs (I fought for 8 hours with some internet anonymous who was controlling my system with MS_Blast).I finally secretly settled on an eMac birthday gift.She didn't need the gaming power of some Wintel boxes and other than Word and the internet didn't need much at all.The eMac was nicely priced and once Office v.X was installed had everything she needed to go right on working.To be safe I also bought Virtual PC 6.1 and replicated her old Win 98SE system on her eMac right down to the installed software and quantity of RAM.It took me less than 4 hours to get everything setup (multi-OS network, digital camera, printer, ADSL line, etc.) and I didn't encounter a single problem through the entire process.I was stunned.After more than a decade of fighting with PCs to make them work it was shocking for a computer to just do what it was supposed to do when I wanted it to.Simply elegant.The eMac has worked perfectly with my PC and her old PC on the network and she has had no compatibility problems after having "switched".After 5 months of ownership she is delighted and I am converted.Regardless of the fact that my PC is only a year old I'm pitching it in the garbage where it belongs and buying a Mac.To be able to work with your computer instead of on it is a thing you can only expect from a Mac and so I'll never touch a PC again if I don't have too.If you're reading this you are probably considering "switching" and with the new Macs I'd highly recommend it.They work well with the Windows world but allow you to laugh at it's problems (which you'll never experience).Only caution is to be careful that your system is in good shape when you take it home.I had read that some of the early releases of the eMacs and PowerBooks had some glitches.They were fixed for free but it's still frustrating.We've had no such problems.

ditch your PC and get an emac
For the same standard features, you will pay a bit more for an Apple, but as any Mac user will tell you, you get what you pay for. Now you can get this great system for a budget price. Unless you need the absolute fastest processor, or have your heart set on a flat-panel display, this is the best deal around. You'll need to get a better mouse (true for any Mac), and it could use some extra RAM, but other than that, this has everything the average user needs.

Terrific user-friendly computer.
A recent user survey in PC magazine identified Apple computers as the most reliable and easiest to use computers currently available. Yes, most people use Windows-based PCs, but do you want to be another member of the PC herd -- with all of the problems and frustrations presented by Windows-based PCs -- or are you looking for a computer which is user friendly and seldom crashes? If ease of use and reliability are more important to you than being one of the crowd, please seriously consider buying an Apple. Since the eMac is Apple's least expensive computer, it's a terrific way to enter the user-friendly world of Apple computers at a very reasonable price. And don't be concerned about the processor speed, this is a very fast computer. The 1 GHz G4 processor is roughly equivalent to a 2 GHz Pentium processor. If you're willing to try something off the beaten path, you'll love this computer. ... Read more

Editorial Review

series of desktop computers meshes well with situations where space is at a premium and the user is not necessarily a computing expert. It is therefore a particularly good fit in the elementary or high school classroom. In fact, Apple has designed the system with this purpose in mind. Heading the eMac roster is the eMac Desktop 17" M8951LL/A, a sensibly designed yet capable unit that's ready for the unique conditions of a multi-user educational environment.Read more

Reviews (6)

wonderful hardware, software has some nuances
This review is for the emac with OS X Jauguar (10.2.6).The hardware of has the feel of elegance.I really like the acrylic-like look of the all-in-one type system.The 17" flat screen CRT is superb -- in fact, this was the main reason I opted for the emac over the flat LCD imac.The Aqua inferace if beautiful -- as nice or even nicer than the ads show.However, if one expects the computer to be trouble free, then this is not the case.The major situation which happens on my machine is that applications (primarily Safari, and Mail) unexpectedly quit.There are ways to recover -- like quitting (trashing the app's preferences file, or zapping the PRAM or running a utility like Diskwarrior 3.0 beforehand on a regular basis).However, these nuances make the system not as rock solid as one may think. Additionally, Mac OS X doesn't have a System Restore feature to rollback changes.For example, in the event of doing a bad System Update, one can't simply do a goback to revert any changes.A rollback feature for Mac OS X would be such an improvement in stability.

Awesome bang for the buck
This computer is an outstanding value compared to other macs and compared to computers in general.Processor speed, bus speed, video capabilities, bundled software, practically everything about the computer screams value and quality.The components are not cutting edge fast, but are very capable for practically every possible use for the computer. Great Little Machine
Needing another Mac for a small space, we purchased this eMac and I expected very little performance wise.To my surprise the new eMac can definitely compete with the more expensive Macs available.I have been quite pleased and we have never had a problem. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

This computer is great
I have had my unit for several months now with zero problems. I easily upgraded my memoty to 1gb and that was well worth it.I run photoshop and illustrator as well as indesign for school and have no problems with the machine operating this software. I also purchased a kodak digital camera which works great with i-photo. This was a very positive purchase as well as being my first mac and I will definatly purchase a mac again.

Get an iMac
My Uncle bought an eMac and it never works right.He puts a lot of software on it which is probably the problem.It also won't work with his MP3 player.I wouldn't work with the scanner he bought until he called tech support for an hour.I have a friend in my Mac club who took his eMac back and bought an iMac for similiar reasons.His iMac works great.This model may be cheap but you get what you pay for.Save yourself the trouble.

Perfect First Computer
My girlfriend purchased an eMac as her first computer and has had a great time learning on it. For the past 5 months it has been rock solid. It has a beautiful screen, much like the 17" monitor that goes with my G4 Cube. We have had no monitor problems like some have reported. DVD playback(if you have it) is very clear and you can rip a CD in about 5 minutes. Spring for the stand, a subwoofer, and more memory if you can. 100% Satisfied. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Affordable, user-friendly and surprisingly diminutive, Apple's new eMac series of desktop computers meshes well with situations where space is at a premium and the user is not necessarily a computing expert. It is therefore a particularly good fit in the elementary or high school classroom.Read more

Reviews (4)

A PC Hardware Fan is ABSOULTEY RIGHT!
I am an apple fan through and through, and when my original iMac finally blew after over 6yrs and had to quickly purchase a new computer, I looked straight to the new eMac models.I researched this product thoroughly and all of the information that I received basically labled both of the eMac models with capabilities of burning CDs, and viewing DVDs.I never knew that there was an eMac model in existence that was sold BEFORE these models.So when I happily purchased this eMac, thinking I was getting a great deal, I was told by the retail associate that ALL of the eMac models had these features.I never knew that this model did NOT.They act like this model didn't even EXIST!I am very disappointed in this purchase mainly because of the misinformation currently available about each of these models.This is just a glorified version of the older iMacs and the manual does not tell you a THING about how to use this new operating system.You will HAVE to purchase supplement manuals by other publishers to even get a CLUE unless you're already familiar with newer iMac models and MacOSX.So, buyers beware.Just make sure that you're getting what you expect to get with this model, and not being misinformed.

Absolutely unfair that Apple would have ever sold this model
This computer looks and feels just like the more expensive versions except for a crucial difference...The Superdrive or the Combo drive which Apple is so constantly hyping doesn't come on this model.All you get is a CD rom drive. And if you want to use iDVD or iTunes to burn music?YOu can't!You must buy a separate drive and then hunt on the internet for hack software to try to play DVDs.iDVD will not work AT ALL on your machine.Apple even went so far as to install a microchip to stop your computer from playing iDVD on any drive but a Superdrive.The other problem is Mac OSX.It is a nightmare!Imagine returning to the days when you had to experiment with everything on your computer just to find out how each program worked.There is NO instruction manual for OSX.And it is very non-user friendly.BEWARE and stay far away from Apple.They are interested in only one thing...selling new and newer computers.They will do anything they can to get you to buy a brand new machine.

World's most user-friendly computer at a bargain price.
A recent user survey in PC magazine identified Apple computers as the most reliable and easiest to use computers currently available. Yes, most people use Windows-based PCs, but do you want to be another member of the PC herd -- with all of the problems and frustrations presented by Windows-based PCs -- or are you looking for a computer which is user friendly and seldom crashes? If ease of use and reliability are more important to you than being one of the crowd, please seriously consider buying an Apple. Since the eMac is Apple's least expensive computer, it's a terrific way to enter the user-friendly world of Apple computers at a very reasonable price. And don't be concerned about the 800 MHz processor, this is a very fast computer -- G4 processors are equivalent to Pentium processors twice their speed. If you're willing to try something off the beaten path, you'll love this computer. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

It seems like I'm always giving out 3 stars....
Back when I directed the low budget film known by no one, the "Dragon-Fist Connection," I noticed what a chore it was to sneak into work at CNN every night to edit the stupid thing. I wished I had some way to do it at home.
Read more

Features

• Dual 1-GHz PowerPC G4 processors
• Four independent drive bays for up to 480GB of hot-plug internal storage
• 1U enclosure, allowing up to 84 processors in a standard 42U rack
• Unix-based operating system with powerful cross-platform services

Features

• 40GB Hard Drive
• CD-RW Drive
• 2 Firewire Ports
• 2 USB Ports
• 1 Gigabit Ethernet (10/100/1000 Mbps)

Editorial Review

The latest dual 1 GHz Power Mac G4 improves system bandwidth with engineering enhancements that include a 167 MHz system bus, and features a new-generation graphics processor, a DVD- and CD-burning SuperDrive, and the new Mac OS X 10.2 Jaguar preloaded.Read more

Reviews (5)

Fast. but really noisy
I've been a Mac fan since the PB 180, but had gone PC for a while.I came back to the Mac with this DP G4 and love it.It's fast and has all of the goodies.We made a DVD of my son's first year with iMovie and made a DVD our families love. You can't do that on a PC without a lof of expensive software and hardware.My only issue is the noise.

You might want to check this first :
Very Well Done
I'm also a Mac and PC user and also agree with the reviews below. The noise issue is the only reason I took off a star. Earlier models had a bad board that made the CPU fan run faster than it needed. In case you didn't know, the CPU fan changes speed to suit the cooling needs of the CPUs (a very nice Apple-ish touch). My CPU fan is very quite 98% of the time. The loudest noise comes from the power supply fans. There are replacement after-market fans available, but I don't think I'm going to need it. Yep - it's louder than my old G3, but not as loud as the new high-end Dells we have at work.Read more

Features

• 80GB Ultra ATA/100 7200 RPM Hard Drive
• CD-RW/DVD-ROM Combo Drive
• ATI Radeon 9000 Pro with 64MB of DDR SDRAM & dual display support
• Supports resolutions up to 1920 x 1200 (digital) & 1600 x 1200 (analog)
• Two FireWire 400 Ports

Editorial Review

Apple's all-in-one eMac, originally designed for the education market, is now available to everyone. The most affordable G4-based computer series ever, the eMac now includes Apple's SuperDrive, which allows you to burn both recordable DVDs and CDs, along with a suite of Apple software that will allow your digital creativity to flow from the moment you plug in the computer.Read more

Reviews (6)

Superior to Windows
To start off: if you are thinking about making "the switch", go for it! The eMac is perfect for people who want the power of the G4 processor for less money than an iMac. Apple does it Again...
All mac fans know that the iMac was a great success. The new eMac doesn't fall short of the iMac reputation. This computer is perfectly designed for schools, has a lot of power, and is overall a great computer. I would say that even people who don't happen to own a school could use this computer as a great resource. If you are looking for a Mac, I would recommend this one.

I Just Wanted a Computer that Actually Works
Hubba Hubba.I got home, took out the Mac, and within an hour, I'd already set it up, connected to the internet, surfed the web, and burned a music CD mix.The ads don't lie.Read more

Features

• 1-GHz PowerPC G4 processor
• Four independent drive bays for up to 480GB of hot-plug internal storage
• 1U enclosure, allowing up to 84 processors in a standard 42U rack
• Unix-based operating system with powerful cross-platform services

Features

• Dual Boot OS9.2 & OS10.2 Jaguar!
• L3 Cache - 2MB DDR SDRAM (per processor)
• 167MHz System Bus
• 120GB Ultra ATA/100 7200 RPM Hard Drive
• SuperDrive DVD-R/CD-RW Drive

Editorial Review

Apple's all-in-one eMac, originally designed for the education market, is now available to everyone. The most affordable G4-based computer series ever, the eMac now includes Apple's SuperDrive, which allows you to burn both recordable DVDs and CDs, along with a suite of Apple software that will allow your digital creativity to flow from the moment you plug in the computer.Read more

Reviews (13)

Great Machine for the Money
This is a fantastic machine for the money. It is fast and efficient and runs beautifully. I don't find the fan to be annoying at all. It can actually be quite soothing while I work and turns off when you put the machine to sleep. I would definitely recommend buying with more memory. I bought mine with 512MB, but be sure to start with at least 256MB. Good for newbies to Mac
This thing is constantly surprising me in how out does my old PC.Everyday applications run great and I haven?t had any problems with the hardware.Games run surprisingly well for only a GeForce 2 MX.The only problem is that it isn?t the best at running everything.700mhz is considered low end for G4 macs these days.But, it is a good deal considering the price. It is also nice that it includes Mac OS 9, so you can boot up in OS 9 to run old applications or to run new ones faster. I could go on to talk about how great Mac OS X is and all the software included, but this is a hardware review, right?

Ridiculously slow, weird design
This model is [not very good] for a Mac, and alas, you get what you pay for.It feels slow and the lack of expansion is already proving a headache for me.I also don't like the design.If I were to pay for a computer myself, I'd stick with a Windows PC for better performance, wider software selection, and better tech support -- all for a lower price. ... Read more

Editorial Review

The new dual 867 MHz Power Mac G4 combines the brawn of two fast processors with improved system throughput, and features a high-performance graphics processor, a combination DVD player/CD burner, and the new Mac OS X 10.2 Jaguar preloaded.Read more

Reviews (6)

unbelieveably noisy
I've never written a review for Amazon before, but I feel I must to urge people away from this this product.The primary issue with it is the fan noise.At times it sounds like a jet fighter taking off, at others a whiny AC or air filter set to maximum power.When you're trying to concentrate to get work done, or playing a game, it gets in the way.That alone would be enough to avoid a purchase, but there are other issues. Good If You Need Flexibility
Originally I set out with the 17" iMac as the kind of machine I'd like most.But when I saw the actual screen at the Apple Store, I found it to handle text and pictures fairly poorly [not that it's worse than most LCD screens out there] and so the only alternative was to go to the Tower, which also gives you a lot more flexibility in terms of memory, hard-drives and driving multiple screens at the same time [important if you're going to do video editing]. Power^2
This computer is FAAAAAAAST.Fast is the only way to describe it.Having TWO G4 processors at 867 MHZ makes this machine absolutely scream through all of the tasks I can put it through.Since OS X takes advantage of both processors as well as the velocity "Altivec" engine, all system tasks are completed instantaneously.Read more

Reviews (6)

My Cube
In 2000 I decided to finally break down and get a computer. Everyone said get a Dell, get a Dell so I got a dell. I got it in the mail, set it up, and crash. Called help. Reinstalled software. Ok for a few days then crash. Anyway, after three weeks of this I returned the Dell and bought a G4 Cube. I love my Cube. All I have ever had to do is add memory and a bigger HD. Runs Panther like a charm. It's so QUIET. And it's purty. I think so! (although the mini has been catching my eye) This really has been a very stable, reliable computer. Even with the original processor I am able to do pretty much everything I want to (photo's, music). It's kinda like driving a neat old sportscar.

Nice machine, enjoyed it for three years.
I purchased this machine in 2001 as a used item.If one researches for this machine, this model definitely has a cult following.
A COMPUTER OF BEAUTY IS A JOY FOREVER
The Apple Cube is without a doubt the most beautiful computer ever made. As soon as I saw it in 2001 I knew I had to have one. Apple had already stopped production so I found one on eBay for 2000 bucks. I have never regretted it. I maxxed out the RAM to 2 Gig as soon as I got it. Since then I have put in a much larger hardrive and a superdrive CD/DVD burner with good results. It is runningthe latest OS X, Panther and I plan to put Tiger on as soon as it is out. It is dead silent as it has no fan. I have it up on some nice teak wood blocks to improve the convection cooling though it had never run hot it just looks good up there. I run it 24/7 as a iTunes jukebox airported to the rest of the house and whatever else I want to compute as well. Irony that just now 5 years later I am seeing PC cubes coming out, only they are UGLY. I would highly recommend this computer to anyone of taste. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Macintosh is light years ahead of PC
I just recently got the Dual 1.25 GHz PowerMac G4. I had been using the 350Mhz G4 "Yikes" Machine, and needed a computer that could do video editing. This thing rocks. It works great. You don't need the G5 to do video. As long as you've got a dual proccesor, you're fine. There isn't much to say about this. You can't describe it in words. But please, whoever is reading this right now, please buy one. For your own sake. I love my Mac!
This is my first Mac.I've had my Mac for about 3 months now.Mac is just plain friendlier than Windows.I am using the same monitor I was using with my old PC; this Mac comes with an adapter and you just connect it to the existing monitor cable and plug it in to the Mac.From taking it out of the box to plugging everything in really was a breeze.Before I started, someone suggested I'd want to increase the memory, so I bought a 256 MB RAM chip here on Amazon after tracking down that it was the right one (Edge Memory 256M 2.5V 184-pin DDR DIMM PC-2700 CL 2 ( PE187903)).There are instructions on the Apple site, and it really was easy to install, just open the side door (no tools needed) and then slide the chip in place.Be sure to push it in firmly.Once it was in, I closed the door and started up the Mac for the first time. Loud Fans
Pretty new to the Apple thing. After being frustrated with PC's I made the jump to Apple G4. So far I like the straight forward approach, and I'm doing really cool things on Pro Tools recording software. I'm also starting to learn a little bit about Flash, Photoshop, and Qua