Mac Users Sound Off About eMac As Worst Product.

The year is ending on a “good news, bad news” note for Apple and Mac users. First, the good news.

The iPod is the runaway hit for techno-gift givers this year with shortages of the diminutive iPod all over the country. Second, the bad news.

PC Magazine rated a number of computer products as Top 10 Worst Products for 2004. iMac G5? Nope. They love that. iPod mini or photo? Nope. Rave reviews.

How about the PowerMac G5 or Mac OS X? Nope. Even PC Magazine and Windows pundits love both. So, what’s the bad news?

The eMac is the worst desktop of 2004. What do Mac users say? Surprisingly, the response was both swift and mixed. While we have a soft spot for the eMac (it held duty as our web site server for awhile), some Mac users agreed with PC Magazine.

{Reader tjw1971 wrote us, "As soon as I saw the eMac in this list, I knew someone was going to write a scathing attack on PC Mag. for putting it in there. 

Even one of my good friends IM'd me the first evening the article came out (knowing how much I like my Macs) and pointed it out to me.  I'm sure he was waiting to see how angered I'd be by it, and thought it'd be amusing to see me trying to defend the eMac.  (He's one of those "watching the Mac from a distance, but mainly a PC/Windows" guys - and thinks I'm foolish for being so "pro-Mac" despite their price and lack of software.) 

You know what though?  I agree with PC Mag!  Ok, *maybe* making it one of the top 10 worst products of the year is a little harsh, but not far off the mark… "

And that wasn't the only comment agreeing with PC Mag. Read on…

"It still uses a (rather small) CRT, while everything else they sell has gone LCD.  It's rather bulky, while everything else is about efficient use of space. 
The standard hard drive in it is about the smallest you can still buy brand new on a store shelf, and it comes with a default config of about half as much RAM as it really needs to run the OS bundled with it very well.  The video is several generations out-of-date.

Even the $799 price seems high, when Dell has Dimension systems with 15" LCD monitors, better video, and at least as much RAM and drive space starting at $499."

Of course, Mac users are Mac users and some came to a different conclusion. Mac user "steimel" wrote:

"Wow. I COULD NOT DISAGREE MORE.  I convinced my friend to buy one a few months ago and I bought my parents one with a SuperDrive.  Both of which are very happy with the eMac. 

Its my parents first Mac so I wanted them to start off with something basic.  I also got it for them so we can iChat….them on the eMac and me on my PowerBook.  My friend loves his and burns DVDs and music CDs all the time. 

Its a shame these sh***ead “journalists” do these end of the year top ten lists and throw good computers in just to fill the article.  Get a clue.  Have a great holiday Mac users, Mac bashers can stick it.”

Good. We’re back to normal again. Oh, one more thing. Tera ran a series of articles about the “file mess” on Mac OS X, especially the Documents folder. While one person’s organization is another user’s nightmare, Tera found a solution in DEVONthink. Some Mac users agreed.

Mac users “cnh” thinks DEVONthink is worthy.

“Yep another big fan of DT here.  Everything Tera, Ray and Fred said.  I looked for something like this before I even owned a Mac, so I was over the moon when I found it. 

As well all its other uses, I use it to scan and store important documents plus as a wannabe writer, am writing my novel straight into it, having created folders for chapters, snippets etc. 

I back very often when I’m writing! (using the Export command).  When it comes time to produce a manuscript, I’ll toss it into Word for final laying out.  For me, DT is one of those non-Apple apps that makes buying a Mac a necessity!”

A Mac may be the ultimate in personal computers and its a good thing there’s plenty of great applications to go around.