# emachines! **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 17, 1999, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emachines/4148 "1999-10-17T15:51:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 1999, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emachines/4148/1 "1999-10-17T15:51:00Z")
Ah, I searched, but narry a word on them. So, let’s talk about them. Most are _free_ [but not free like they give them to you, you pay around $1,200 [$400 computer + $700 computserver or whatever] before you get to the _free_ part]. One guy bought one & he already has a modem. Called emachines, said he wanted a refund on their modem & they said, ‘sorry, we only do complete computers…’ Those Cyrix chips make me nervous. Also, do they come with a full cd of W98 or just a semi-pirated-licensed version of same? ---
**Author:** ![krish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c57346/32.png) [@krish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/krish)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 1999, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emachines/4148/2 "1999-10-17T16:26:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Also, do they come with a full cd of W98 or just a semi-pirated-licensed version of same? With the suit over whether its design is too close to the iMac, I think they have enough to worry about without distributing semi-pirated versions of Win98. ---
**Author:** ![Sassy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@Sassy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sassy)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 1999, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emachines/4148/3 "1999-10-18T00:06:00Z")
I love mine. I got everything I needed in the way of software. The only thing missing was a monitor. I will get a refund of the $475.00 I paid, so the computer is essentially costing me $20.00 a month for 3 years. * * * The reason gentlemen prefer blondes is that there are not enough redheads to go around. ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 1999, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emachines/4148/4 "1999-10-18T00:35:00Z")
We got my Mom an e-machine for Xmas last year. It was a 266. Anyway it toasted on her and I could never really get from her what happened (she’s 82 and brand new to computers). They said to send it back and we did. It took’em ~ 6 weeks, but they did send her back a new 300 w/a slightly larger HD. I’ve spent probably a total of an hour w/it; it seems to work OK. Dinky speakers. And the system doesn’t really come w/a W98 CD. It comes w/a Restore CD. Hope this helps. ---
**Author:** ![Homer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/df788c/32.png) [@Homer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homer)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 1999, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emachines/4148/5 "1999-10-18T00:54:00Z")
I work for Best Buy, in case you guys didn’t notice. Don’t buy an E-Machine. It’s a rip off. Crappy computer, cheap monitor, everything’s bottom drawer. Don’t buy one. It’s a rip off. –Tim * * * We are the children of the Eighties. We are not the first “lost generation” nor today’s lost generation; in fact, we think we know just where we stand - or are discovering it as we speak. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 1999, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emachines/4148/6 "1999-10-18T16:14:00Z")
Homer, do you sell a lot of them with a pitch like that? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Lucky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Lucky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucky)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 1999, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emachines/4148/7 "1999-10-18T19:41:00Z")
My work computer is an e-machine. Piece of junk, frankly. Sure, it’s fine here at thye office for hanging about at the SDMB all day, but I wouldn’t have one at home. Far too important things to do there 😉 * * * Don’t get me wrong–I love life. I’m just finding it harder and harder to keep myself amused. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 1999, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emachines/4148/8 "1999-10-18T22:39:00Z")
‘Piece of junk, frankly’ Why is that Lucky? ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Armageddon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/858c86/32.png) [@Mister\_Armageddon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Armageddon)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 1999, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emachines/4148/9 "1999-10-19T18:34:00Z")
My mother just bought an emachines computer a couple of months ago. It sucks. The monitor is horrible, the speakers are ridiculously small and the sound quality is abysmal. Also, the modem was fried in a lightning storm, so she can’t even go online with it anymore. (We have an alternate computer downstairs, so I have to sign onto AOL using the guest feature.) And as if all of that wasn’t bad enough, the internal fan is making a really loud whirring noise whenever it’s turned on. My advice would be to save your money for a better computer if you’re thinking of buying from them. ---
**Author:** ![Lucky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Lucky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucky)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 1999, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emachines/4148/10 "1999-10-19T18:41:00Z")
Well, Handy, I hate my emachine because it can’t seem to handle more than two tasks at a time. If I’m working on (i.e.) an Excell document, and I’m on line, and then someone asks me to pull up last week’s sales report, the computer flips out. I don’t know technically what’s happening, but it will take several minutes just to open the program I requested if other things are open at the same time. The modem also sucks. I constatnly get error messages that the modem is unable to detect a router when I try to download e-mail. When I’m on line, I get “cannot connect to server” error messages. And, as was said by others, the speakers suck. * * * Don’t get me wrong–I love life. I’m just finding it harder and harder to keep myself amused. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 1999, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emachines/4148/11 "1999-10-19T19:44:00Z")
Oh, I see. Off-brand cheap, incompatible modems, same with sound cards, it looks. I wonder what brands of stuff they really do use in those things… ---
**Author:** ![realm505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@realm505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/realm505)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 1999, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emachines/4148/12 "1999-10-20T04:25:00Z")
I worked at CompUSA over the summer, and E-machines are crap. most were returned back within days because of internal errors. e-machines are recycled computer hardware from hp & compaq, and the code-architecture is sloppy. FYI gateway is also recycled hardware a-la your :)where leasing. just so you know I use a DELL the best customer service, when mine broke down, they paind for the express shipping, and fixed it with no cost! and they are truelly 100% upgradeable. ---
**Author:** ![realm505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@realm505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/realm505)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 1999, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emachines/4148/13 "1999-10-20T04:30:00Z")
damn auto emodacon “your(insert smiley)ware” PS CYRIX is in ch12. it’s over for them. LAST PS. wait 2 months the 7th gen chipsets will be out. and they will bill the first 100% ground-up chips since the late 70’s for the PC market. If you can’t wait. buy a G4 mac. ---
**Author:** ![Satan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Satan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satan)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 1999, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emachines/4148/14 "1999-10-20T11:48:00Z")
Well, I got me a Gateway. They finainced me, and my credit at the time was not stellar (but it is now - well, it’s better at any rate - thanks to this financing), the computer applications and hardware is all name brand, their support is AMAZING, they have the 2-year trade-in option, and _knock on wood_ my computer has treated me nicely. * * * Yer pal, Satan ---
**Author:** ![Arken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dfb087/32.png) [@Arken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arken)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 1999, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emachines/4148/15 "1999-10-21T05:07:00Z")
Computers?!? You mean the rest of you don’t surf the 'net via telegraph? ---
**Author:** ![JMSaSU](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c68b51/32.png) [@JMSaSU](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JMSaSU)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 1999, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emachines/4148/16 "1999-10-21T00:32:00Z")
My e-machine serves well enough. It’s a 333MHZ and is slower than my Pentium ll 266MHZ machine. I just added another 32 Megs of RAM. That helped some. But then I didn’t pay that much. We needed a second machine and I looked at some used dinosaurs and the e-machine was a better deal. Seems they are the worst of the best. JACK ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 1999, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emachines/4148/17 "1999-10-21T15:26:00Z")
If I bought an emachine, I would pick the one in the store that they use as a demo cause its on all the time & throughly tested 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 1999, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emachines/4148/18 "1999-10-21T22:47:00Z")
Hey, ever wonder what to do if you bought a computer that has software you already own, like W98? If you dont agree to that licensing agreement, it says you are supposed to be able to get a refund. This can be $50-80 or more. This lady tried to do it and she writes a great story about it & her emachine: [http://www2.pure-chaos.com/mitrian.html](http://www2.pure-chaos.com/mitrian.html) ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 1999, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emachines/4148/19 "1999-10-22T11:20:00Z")
I bought an eMachine for $75, took it home, set it up, and used it for about a week. I found that it kicked me offline from AOL about 10 times more often than my former computer, so I returned it for a refund. You live, you learn. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 1999, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emachines/4148/20 "1999-10-23T05:16:00Z")
Snarkberry, $75? Thats is pretty low but then couldnt you just put in your own modem so it stays connected? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emachines/4148.md?page=2)