eMacs phased out of Retail Stores?

[jouster]

...and that eMac screen does look better than most PC CRT's I've seen over the years.

Really? I've always been under the impression that the eMac has had a multitude of problems with its screen.

 

[bosrs1]

The eMac is still a rock solid computer and I doubt if Apple is going to drop it. First, they listen to what the schools are saying and accommodate their desires - the market is just too bug for them not to.

Second, the eMac can be upgraded with faster chips, G4 or G5, and can get other improvements to boost performance. G4 provides a means of maintaining a relationship with FreeScale, which is of value in the long term if FS comes out with a rocking dual core G4 chip. G5 might provide for lower costs on all G5 chips, but I wouldn't put a lot of money on that one.

The eMac also provides a very important price point between the Mac mini and the iMac, which I think Apple wants to take advantage of.

I also think that the CRT will stay as a lot of people working in the graphics area will feel more comfortable with it. The change over point, for me, will be when the difference in costs of shipping the eMac with a CRT is greater than the difference in moving up to a flat screen.

As for consumers, those that go into the Apple Store to look at the Mac mini might well walk out with an eMac if they find the iMac's screen far better than the one they have at home. Adding to the Mac mini can bring it close to the eMac's cost and that eMac screen does look better than most PC CRT's I've seen over the years.

That I have to disagree with. The eMac has one of the worst CRTs I've ever seen. It is the black sheep of the Mac line, talk to anyone in the Apple store. They don't even try to sell it too you because it's such old garbage. To say nothing of the genii, they loathe it.

 

[bosrs1]

Really? I've always been under the impression that the eMac has had a multitude of problems with its screen.

It does. I had my CRT pulled 3 times and got successively worse ones each time. Then I got a new eMac which also had a pretty lousy screen, albiet better then any on the first one. Screen buzzing, distortion, poor color (even after being adjusted)

 

[ASP272]

Personally, I've never cared for the eMac, and agree with others than the Mini would be the best solution for schools with an old CRT monitor. They would definitely be more affordable!

 

[GFLPraxis]

Here's my guess, as I sit in front of a 17" iMac G5....

There's agap between the plastic and the LCD. It shows the clear plastic they use for the case, combined with the white plastic that gives it it's color.

Then I look at my iPod Photo, who's creators also gave us the iMac.

There's no gap over the screen, it's flush. I'm thinking rev B. iMac G5 takes the optical-less edu model, and puts a plastic cover of sorts over the screen.

There's two models: a 1.8 ghz G5 17" with no optical for $799edu ONLY and a 17" 2.0 ghz G5 17", no optical for $999 edu ONLY. Figure that 1.8 ghz G5's for edu is perfect, and given that the no optical on currently costs $999, they could easily drop that $200 and give a similarly spec'd one with a slight faster processor for $999.

Come in with the low end at $699, 1.6 ghz (is it possible?) with 17" screen and 40gb HD (all others have 80gb std, in my model) with no optical and sell it for $599.

So you have protected screen iMacs for EDU at:

$599 1.6 G5 17" with 40 gb HD no optical
$799 1.8 G5 17" with 80 gb HD no optical
$999 2.0 G5 17" with 80 gb HD no optical

This leads the way for new iMacs at:

$999 1.8 G5 17" with 80gb, 512ram, Combo drive
$1299 2.0 G5 17" with 160gb, 512ram, Superdrive
$1499 1.8 G5 20" with 80gb, 512 ram, Combo drive
$1699 2.0 G5 20" with 160gb, 512 ram, Superdrive

I dunno. Pie in the sky maybe, but talk about bang for the buck!

Throw in a 15" model for $799...

 

[GFLPraxis]

Everyone should rate this thread positive.

eMac lovers:
"Yay! The eMac is no longer arriving at stores, therefore, an update must be in store!"

eMac haters:
"Yay! The eMac no longer is arriving in stores, therefore, they must be deciding to phase it out completely!"

 

[bosrs1]

Everyone should rate this thread positive.

eMac lovers:
"Yay! The eMac is no longer arriving at stores, therefore, an update must be in store!"

eMac haters:
"Yay! The eMac no longer is arriving in stores, therefore, they must be deciding to phase it out completely!"

Actually the later would be the ones who should be positive. eMac hasn't been phased out on the website like they do when an update is coming, which means the eMac is just being phased out of stores period... there is no update.

 

[GFLPraxis]

Didn't need a iMac to replace my aging 1997 6500 Performa for the home, got a eMac 8 months ago and it is a wonderful solid machine, and I come from the pre-press industry where the Macs I use are G5s.
CRT screens are probably costing Apple money and they are always tring to streamline the bottom line. With all the CRTs sitting in schools from other vendors, the MacMini does seem like a obvious sell to take over a Dell dominated classroom. Take the Dell CDT & keyboard, plug them into the MacMini and look at the $$$ you just saved the school board in purchases, and the $70,000 salary of the IT guy who know has nothing to do.
Still, it would be nice if there was a way to keep the eMac. And you're right,..kids would kill a imac, our eMac is covered with my kids fingers no matter how much I clean it. I LOVE my 12" Powerbook, my eMac is close second.

I don't know. CRT's aren't so bad. Remember, thin CRT's (I'm talking about LCD thin, 1 or 2 inches) will be hitting the market later this year. It might be a good idea to keep the eMac line around for the ultrathin CRT's. Especially since they're going to be much cheaper than equivilant LCD's.

 

[aswitcher]

I can't see them pulling the eMacs unless they plan to drop the CRT...

I expect either an edu model for the iMac as others have suggested without CD/DVD drive, wireless and with minimum specks...or as we have discussed before a 15" iMac to add to the base end

OR Apple reintroduces a cheap 17" LCD (no FW, USB 2 hub) still in white pastic to support the Mac Mini and for educators...

 

[cyanide]

eMacs are wonderful computers. I assume that people who dog on it dislike it because of its shape, which oddly enough i find more aesthetically pleasing than the imac g5's. granted i would rather have that imac, but my opinion stands. I can run anything i need to on this computer, and use it for my small web biz. it is more than capable for any school setting elementary through high school, esp. with extra ram. and the kicker.. its cheap! i was a fledgling college kid when i bought this emac myself, and it didnt set me back much at all. i even had enough to upgrade it some! if new emacs are coming, i will be thoroughly pleased, and may even upgrade to it unless its a faster g4. then again i could always use a second computer...emac fans unite! (and no, i dont want to hear from all the other unix/emacs geeks out there!)

 

[Rower_CPU]

It does. I had my CRT pulled 3 times and got successively worse ones each time. Then I got a new eMac which also had a pretty lousy screen, albiet better then any on the first one. Screen buzzing, distortion, poor color (even after being adjusted)

Before the sweeping generalizations get out of hand...

My lab of 40 eMacs has not had a single screen issue in over 2 years of use. They're all 700MHz models - I'd be very surprised if the rev B models had worse screens.

 

[bosrs1]

Before the sweeping generalizations get out of hand...

My lab of 40 eMacs has not had a single screen issue in over 2 years of use. They're all 700MHz models - I'd be very surprised if the rev B models had worse screens.

I wouldn't be. Apple probably got a cheaper supplier. My 1.25s were both garbage.

 

[Tulse]

The eMac is a great, affordable machine -- our non-profit has over 20 of them, and they do everything we need at far less cost than iMacs. We did have some screen problems when they first came out, but that was quite a while ago, and our recent machines have been solid. They aren't cutting edge, but they are fine for running MS Office, email, web browsing, etc. -- in other words, what 95% of the people in our organization do (I have a dual G5, but then again, I'm the graphics and IT guy).

Our organization, which is all-Mac, will be rather pressed financially if we couldn't purchase desktops as inexpensive as the eMac (and for aesthetic reasons I would very much prefer not to have to go to a mini + cheap PC monitor option). I hope they keep them (or some similarly affordable option) around.

 

[Rower_CPU]

I wouldn't be. Apple probably got a cheaper supplier. My 1.25s were both garbage.

If that truly is the case I'd imagine we'd have seen or will see a recall/replacement similar to the iBook logic board last year.

 

[bosrs1]

If that truly is the case I'd imagine we'd have seen or will see a recall/replacement similar to the iBook logic board last year.

I doubt it. Apple has had several instances of minor monitor problems over the years they just ignore, such as the 20" iMac G4's flickering screen issue that Apple denied happening, but that was fairly widespread. Plus so few people buy eMacs it's not worth their time to recall them, especially since most of the issues are admittedly minor even if annoying. Ask any mac genii, they'll tell you the same thing. The eMac screens are trash.

 

[Rower_CPU]

I doubt it. Apple has had several instances of minor monitor problems over the years they just ignore, such as the 20" iMac G4's flickering screen issue that Apple denied happening, but that was fairly widespread. Plus so few people buy eMacs it's not worth their time to recall them, especially since most of the issues are admittedly minor even if annoying. Ask any mac genii, they'll tell you the same thing. The eMac screens are trash.

Oh, I've definitely heard about CRT issues, I'm just providing balance to people's claims that seem to say that they are 100% guaranteed to fail.

Granted that the eMac is the lowest selling model, too, but I do know that they are fairly widespread in their targeted demographic (educational institutions) and given the historical support from us EDU folks you think they wouldn't try to sweep something like this under the carpet.

 

[bosrs1]

Oh, I've definitely heard about CRT issues, I'm just providing balance to people's claims that seem to say that they are 100% guaranteed to fail.

Granted that the eMac is the lowest selling model, too, but I do know that they are fairly widespread in their targeted demographic (educational institutions) and given the historical support from us EDU folks you think they wouldn't try to sweep something like this under the carpet.

Point taken. I'll admit that eMacs aren't the devil computer they're made out to be. However they have more shortcomings then any other Mac as well. It's sad but true, they're a very old design. The basic architecture is still that of the old iMac G3. Even the motherboard is based on a machine from 8 years ago.

 

[auxplage]

How can everyone hate the eMac and love the Mac Min? They are the same exact system architecture (eMac better by a bit), but the Mini is just new, small, and cooler (a highly relative term). The eMac's CRT is not the best, but this computer serves its purpose while being along the same specs as a brand new computer. I just do not think that it is that bad.

 

[bosrs1]

How can everyone hate the eMac and love the Mac Min? They are the same exact system architecture (eMac better by a bit), but the Mini is just new, small, and cooler (a highly relative term). The eMac's CRT is not the best, but this computer serves its purpose while being along the same specs as a brand new computer. I just do not think that it is that bad.

1. The CRT is a big problem on many eMacs and limits your choice.
2. The eMac is heavy as all hell. 6 lbs vs 60 lbs.... which would you rather try moving around.
3. The Mac mini is faster if you get the 1.42 plus it has that option ot begin with.
4. The eMac is too big. It takes up more room then a Mini/CRT or Mini/LCD combo does.
5. It's poorly designed (eg: CD door rattles when speakers turned up, CRTs often are defective, and it's got a host of MB problems)

 

[MacsRgr8]

It's funny how things go...

Reading this thread (and many others...) the eMac seems to have become kinda a "black sheep" in Apple's line-up. The pro's and cons of this Mac are obvious, so I'm not going to pick sides here....

But I can't help remembering the long time awaited iMac 17" CRT a few years ago (when the iMacs were CRT iMacs). Rumors and threads back then were all about the iMac's too small 15" CRT, and a 17" would be "perfect".
All those people who wanted an iMac CRT 17" got what they wanted: the eMac. And it is cheap too!

Problem is that the Flat Panel iMac G4 came into our lives. And what a gr8 iMac that is! And now the iMac G5.... even better.

So now the eMac seems to be the ugly, most un-Apple-like Mac around today. And why? Simply because Apple tried to put that long awaited 17" CRT into the iMac form factor.

I cant help imagining how many 17" CRT AIO Macs prototypes were built, only to be trashed by Steve by its looks. I bet the eMac was the least ugly of the lot.....

I feel kinda sorry for the eMac

It is the 17" iMac that "should have been..." but "never could have been...."

Tnx for trying.

 

[200paul]

I doubt it. Apple has had several instances of minor monitor problems over the years they just ignore, such as the 20" iMac G4's flickering screen issue that Apple denied happening, but that was fairly widespread. Plus so few people buy eMacs it's not worth their time to recall them, especially since most of the issues are admittedly minor even if annoying. Ask any mac genii, they'll tell you the same thing. The eMac screens are trash.

My first Powerbook Aluminum 1.25 was a piece of **** - the lid was soooo bent out of shape (apple said is was acceptable) and it was just complete junk - White Spots!!! I am still mad about the huge loss I took on that one. Next Macworld I should just knee the head of the Powerbook division in in the nutz for the grand I lost on that piece.

Few that felt better.

 

[bosrs1]

My first Powerbook Aluminum 1.25 was a piece of **** - the lid was soooo bent out of shape (apple said is was acceptable) and it was just complete junk - White Spots!!! I am still mad about the huge loss I took on that one. Next Macworld I should just knee the head of the Powerbook division in in the nutz for the grand I lost on that piece.

Few that felt better.

Yeah the early Al books had no end of warped chassis issues. I went through 2 clubfoot versions of my 12 inch before I got one that could sit on a table correctly.

 

[ryannel2003]

eMac's Rock!!!

The eMac is still a rock solid computer and I doubt if Apple is going to drop it. First, they listen to what the schools are saying and accommodate their desires - the market is just too bug for them not to.

Second, the eMac can be upgraded with faster chips, G4 or G5, and can get other improvements to boost performance. G4 provides a means of maintaining a relationship with FreeScale, which is of value in the long term if FS comes out with a rocking dual core G4 chip. G5 might provide for lower costs on all G5 chips, but I wouldn't put a lot of money on that one.

The eMac also provides a very important price point between the Mac mini and the iMac, which I think Apple wants to take advantage of.

I also think that the CRT will stay as a lot of people working in the graphics area will feel more comfortable with it. The change over point, for me, will be when the difference in costs of shipping the eMac with a CRT is greater than the difference in moving up to a flat screen.

As for consumers, those that go into the Apple Store to look at the Mac mini might well walk out with an eMac if they find the iMac's screen far better than the one they have at home. Adding to the Mac mini can bring it close to the eMac's cost and that eMac screen does look better than most PC CRT's I've seen over the years.

THANK YOU!!! You know what your talking about!!!!

For everybody else who bashes eMac:
The eMac is a great solution for people who don't have the money for a iMac G5, but don't want to get a Mac Mini b/c they want the all-in-one form factor or don't already have Keyboard, mouse, or display. I own the 1.25GHz eMac Combo and it's the best computer I have ever owned. There are many people out there who own eMac's and have never had problems with the CRT, Speakers, etc. However, the eMac does have it downsides. When you try turning up the music, the screen vibates (easy fix for me; got some cheap $15 from Wal-Mart and the screen shaking has disappeared.) I guess the eMac gets picked on becuase it not pretty or it doesn't have the G5 or maybe you did get one that was crap. Not everything is perfect. For example, the iMac G5 has a annoying buzzing noise; the iBook G3 had GIGANTIC logic board problems; the PowerBook G4 15" had a Battery recall a couple of months ago; the original eMac 700-800MHz nVidia graphics had problems with "raster shift". So nothing is perfect but the eMac has had its share of problems.

If Apple doesn't update the eMac VERY soon it will start selling lower. The current 1.25GHz model is very good but almost a year old. If I was to buy a Apple Desktop today, I would buy a 1.42GHz Combo Mac Mini, Keyboard, Mouse and a $100 17" CRT Monitor from Best Buy. Apple: PLEASE UPDATE THE eMac!!!!!!

 

[d.perel]

A school full of elementary students would trash iMacs.

I agree... the eMacs at our school have gotten the disc slot covers messed up so badly that one could only think of what would happen to the 2 inch thin iMacs at a school. Also, schools probably like eMacs' glass screens over the puncturable (from poking children) LCD screens used in iMacs. In terms of screen quality, as long as students can read the text on their webpage to do research, screens should not be a major problem.

 

[d.perel]

Apple: PLEASE UPDATE THE eMac!!!!!!

I second that motion