Apple eMac 17" Desktop M8891LL/A (700-MHz PowerPC G4, 128 MB RAM, 40GB Hard Drive, DVD/CD-RW Drive)

by Apple

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 17.1 x 15.8 x 15.8 inches ; 50 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 63.5 pounds
• Shipping: This item can only be shipped to the 48 contiguous states. We regret it cannot be shipped to APO/FPO, Hawaii, Alaska, or Puerto Rico.
• ASIN: B00006IVXY
• Item model number: M8891LL/A
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: August 14, 2002

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

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.

The new SuperDrive-equipped eMac model is the industry's lowest-cost way to author and burn custom DVDs that play in most consumer DVD players. Apple's award-winning iMovie and iDVD applications come pre-installed on the new eMac, enabling users to edit their video and create and burn their own custom DVDs without buying additional software.

The popular eMac features a stunning 17-inch flat CRT display in a remarkably compact design. Its shape lets you conserve desk space--the entire computer is smaller than most 17-inch displays, yet it includes not only the display, but also an integrated high-performance stereo audio system with a 16-watt digital amplifier, as well as the SuperDrive. In fact, it's actually less deep (by about 8 mm) than the original groundbreaking 15-inch iMac. It also features 256 MB of system memory, a 60 GB hard drive, and an nVidia GeForce2 MX graphics processor for stunning graphics display.

The eMac's 700 MHz PowerPC G4 processor uses Velocity Engine technology, which makes multimedia tasks like CD burning and digital video editing faster and easier. In addition, it includes Apple's industry-leading suite of digital lifestyle applications. That includes iPhoto for managing and sharing digital photographs, iMovie for creating digital movies, and iTunes for creating a digital music library, as well as iDVD. With five USB ports and two high-speed FireWire ports, the eMac offers easy plug-and-play connections to popular peripherals such as digital video camcorders, digital still cameras, printers, and scanners.

A built-in 56K modem means you won't need any additional hardware to connect to the Internet. In addition, the eMac comes with a built-in Ethernet connection, which allows it to join your home, office, or school network. An AirPort slot makes it easy to connect the eMac to a wireless network with the addition of an AirPort card.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Try the iMac instead, February 8, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Apple eMac 17" Desktop M8891LL/A (700-MHz PowerPC G4, 128 MB RAM, 40GB Hard Drive, DVD/CD-RW Drive) (Personal Computers)

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.)

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Generally excellent home computer for family use, January 15, 2003

By 

MRZ "MRZ" (Denver, CO) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Apple eMac 17" Desktop M8891LL/A (700-MHz PowerPC G4, 128 MB RAM, 40GB Hard Drive, DVD/CD-RW Drive) (Personal Computers)

First off, I believe Apple has fixed the monitor problem. Mine has worked flawlessly since purchase a couple of weeks ago. In fact, the monitor is one of the best things this computer has going for it. Flat, sharp, clear, excellent color, and 17".

The eMac is an excellent computer for home and family use. People may complain that this machine is underpowered -- I disagree. In my opinion, given the market this machine is supposed to address (home and education), the price/performance ratio can't be beat. This is good and plenty computer for the cost, even when compared to Windows machines intended to compete in that same market.

The 700 mhz G4 is plenty fast for most uses -- most people don't do complicated Photoshop work, for example, and if you do, you wouldn't be looking at a low-end consumer machine anyway. My guess is that the speed compares roughly to a 1.5 ghz Pentium 4.

The GeForce2 video card is probably out of date, and 32 megs VRAM is on the low end. However, the eMac handles all games currently released with aplomb. I've played Wolfenstein, Max Payne, Red Faction, Undying on it at high detail settings (but not maxed), with perfectly playable, reasonably fluid framerates. And the games look great on the flat-screen monitor. I suspect that this computer has at least six months to a year before gaming obsolescence. If gaming is your thing, check out the 17' flat-screen iMac at twice the price. The casual gamer will do just fine with an eMac.

The existence of two firewire ports means that this machine will handle high-speed peripherals without problems. Apple's included applications for burning CD's and DVD's and putting together home movies are the easiest, most intuitive, and best available for home use.

OS X lives up to its reputation for stability and ease of use. I have experienced almost no program crashes, but when I did, it didn't take the whole system with them. Quit the program and continue on your way.

Downsides are that you are probably fixed where internal components are concerned (except RAM). Processor and videocard are soldered onto the motherboard and thus not upgradeable. Hard drive and optical drive are probably upgradeable, but the machine is [hard] to crack open. I've been inside many different macs, and I wouldn't risk opening this one if you paid me.

You will also need to upgrade RAM out of the box. Get at least 256 megs extra. Luckily, RAM is cheap. ... RAM is user-installable through a special opening in the bottom of the computer.

The specs on this machine are the equivalent of the two lower-end flat-screen iMacs. The only difference is price, monitor, the type of RAM accepted, and the ease with which you can upgrade RAM. I personally think the CRT monitor is better than the flat-screen, and bigger too, so I believe the eMac is the better value.

The eMac is absolutely fine in every way, as far as I'm concerned. It is good but not outstanding for specialized purposes (gamers, media professionals may want more horsepower or upgradeable machines). But, it is PERFECT for the use for which it was intended. Families and students will be more than satisfied with price, performance, and appearance.

I bought a tilt-swivel stand and iSub subwoofer too. Indispensible additions. The iSub does wonders for the sound, and the tilt-swivel stand does wonders for ergonomics.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great price, great design, Apple ahead again, August 24, 2002

By 

Christopher Carneal (los angeles) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Apple eMac 17" Desktop M8891LL/A (700-MHz PowerPC G4, 128 MB RAM, 40GB Hard Drive, DVD/CD-RW Drive) (Personal Computers)

I must say this is a great computer for the price. Do the research, go use one at a store, the choice is clear.
And what an elegant user experience.
I'm sorry to hear about the other reviewer's monitor problem but this Mac is too good to give a remotely bad rating.