eMac

A pple cut its teeth in the education market, so it was a no-brainer to launch a Mac aimed solely at schools back in 2002.

Released as a cheaper alternative to the Anglepoise-style iMac G4, the eMac – short for education Mac – actually stood up well to its more expensive cousin. The main difference was the CRT display housed in the eMac, which made its entry-level model considerably more affordable than the LCD-equipped iMac G4. That made it popular, and it was opened up for sale to retail customers just one month after launching.

However, Apple decided to restrict it to schools again in October 2005, without giving an explanation. The move may have been motivated by a desire to shift customers onto the recently launched Mac mini, while falling LCD display prices probably also played a role. Whatever the cause, the eMac was dropped just nine months later and replaced by an ‘education’ version of the iMac Core Duo.