All-in-One 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.
The "e" was for education — a tough, cheap all-in-one for schools.
iMac G4 (2002)
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 All-in-One Mac models
Open the eMac in the interactive archive →
Last updated: 2026-06-28