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Apple eMac 17" Desktop M8891LL/A (700-MHz PowerPC G4, 128 MB RAM, 40GB Hard Drive, DVD/CD-RW Drive)Platform: Mac OS X
Brand: Apple
Binding: Personal Computers
Warranty: 1 year warranty
Try the iMac instead [Posted on 2003-02-08]
I've just become the less-than-proud (and certainly much-less-than satisfied) owner of this eMac model. The good news: It's easy to set up. Plays DVDs great. Takes up less space than you'd expect from a machine with a 17" monitor. And the ability to switch between OS9 and OSX is useful. But. The cooling fan is loud. Very loud. As someone who has personally used just about every Macintosh model that I can think of (ranging from Classics, Quadras and Performas, through iMacs of various generations, right up to dual processor G4 systems), I can safely say that it's the noisiest Mac I've come across. In a quiet room, the fan is easily audible from a distance of 10 feet. If you have a household / classroom full of kids, this might not be too bad, but if you're the type who likes to work in peace, or late at night...maybe not. Like jail and broccoli, it's probably something you can get used to once you've been exposed to it long enough. But why subject customers to such a glaring design flaw in the first place? The older Macs have always been among the quietest computers available. A more serious problem: my eMac came bundled with display problems. Apple's promotional literature describes the CRT display as 'gorgeous'. And so it would be, except that the bottom left-hand corner of mine is overlaid with a dirty blue tint. A bit of browsing around the net revealed that the eMac has been plagued with display glitches since it hit the market. While no manufacturer is infallible, this seems to have been a persistent
problem for several months, and has been acknowledged (although evidently not solved) by Apple. (For more information, check out the discussion forums at Apple.com.) My dealer claimed that new shipments were OK, but well, obviously not. My advice to the prospective Mac owner? Buy the flat-panel iMac instead (almost the same base specs for the 700MHz model, but a bit more expensive) as it has had fewer problems. I'd have done the same thing, but it's a bit too late now, and the result of my folly is sitting nearby, humming. Loudly. (I've just previewed my review. Choosing the 'keep me anonymous' option has automatically rendered me a 'PC Hardware Fan'. I'm not, by any means. I'm just waiting for Apple to restore my faith, after 10 years of pretty good experiences...and one bad one.)
Ridiculously slow, weird design [Posted on 2003-02-10]
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.
Good for newbies to Mac [Posted on 2003-02-22]
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?
Great Machine for the Money [Posted on 2003-04-22]
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. If you want a mac (G4) and are on a budget, this is the machine for you.
The Best Apple Desktop Yet! [Posted on 2007-01-05]
I recently bought one used from a local Mac Reseller, and I love it! It has a wonderful display, a nice feel, and a fast G4 processor! Although it may not be as fast as a new iMac Intel, it is wonderful!
Now the Bad: 2 or so days after using the eMac, the screen started to cave in and shake a lot. I brought it in and now they need to repair something on it. Hopefully It won't happen again!
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