Mac · The Digital Hub · 2002
eMac
Built for classrooms that needed something rugged and affordable, the eMac put a fast G4 behind a big flat CRT. Popular enough that Apple soon sold it to everyone.
eMac: key facts
When was the eMac released?
The eMac was released in April 2002. Apple discontinued it in October 2006.
How much did the eMac cost?
The eMac launched at $1,099 in 2002 — about $1,956 in today’s money (approximate, US CPI).
What are the eMac’s specs?
The eMac used a PowerPC G4 running at 700 MHz, with 128 MB of memory and 39.1 GB of storage. It ran Mac OS X 10.1.
Why does the eMac matter?
The "e" was for education — a tough, cheap all-in-one for schools.
Full specifications
| CPU | PowerPC G4 · 700 MHz |
|---|---|
| Cores | 1 |
| Memory (RAM) | 128 MB (up to 1 GB) |
| Storage | 39.1 GB |
| Display | 17" flat CRT, 1280×960 |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce2 MX |
| Ports | USB, FireWire, Ethernet |
| Weight | 22.7 kg |
| Dimensions | All-in-one CRT |
| Operating system | Mac OS X 10.1 |
| Released | April 2002 |
| Discontinued | October 2006 |
| Launch price | $1,099 |
How the eMac compares to today
A 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro has about 128× more memory than this device shipped with.
At 700 MHz, the clock is roughly 4.6× slower than a single performance core of a 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro — and that is before counting cores, width and IPC.
This held about 10,000 modern phone photos — a respectable library even today.
Launched at $1,099 in 2002 — about $1,956 in today’s money (approx., US CPI).
Cross-architecture speed figures are clock-only and approximate; inflation figures use US CPI.
Did you know?
At nearly 23 kg, it was the heaviest Mac most students ever lifted.
Related Mac models
Open the eMac in the interactive archive →
Last updated: 2026-06-25