eMac: When Apple Cared About Education

Join me in fixing up and exploring this awesome all-in-one computer released around 20002. Emac is Apple’s last CRT computer and I had a blast messing around with it! Enjoy!

[@danielktdoranie]

Your wife is supportive AF, I love it! When you go “Ahhh” she goes “ahhhh” with you, it is adorable

[@schvabek]

@@danielktdoranie Right??? She’s such an angel. I wonder what dumpster she found me in lol 😂

[@TheTrueMissingLink]

I remember when my elementary school had a tech room filled with eMacs. Back in 2011-2012 they replaced the vast majority of them with fancier Intel iMacs. They still ended up keeping a few eMacs around for extra computers, or when someone needed something they couldn't do with rosetta. Awesome machines, they'll always have a place in my heart playing on the "Minecraft For Free" website and getting in trouble lmao.

[@schvabek]

@@TheTrueMissingLink hey, man thanks so much for commenting and sharing your memories! Haha, didn’t we all get in trouble in the computer lab for goofing around? I don’t think Minecraft was out by the time I finished elementary school, but I do remember playing A TON of flash games lol

[@1bit]

The 17” Trinitron inside the eMac is quite nice. Love mine

[@schvabek]

@@1bit It sure is, looks awesome! Cheers! 🤘

[@lachlanlau]

Those 2000s photos are such an ✨aesthetic✨

[@schvabek]

@@lachlanlau Right? Love em! 🤘

[@emave27]

Thank you for the video, this was our first family computer, I have so many memories about it. I remember it was a 2003 model, with a 1 GHz PowerPC G4, and I remember that my father installed a bunch of Mac OS 9 mini games, that me and my sister played using Classic. My parents than swapped it for a late 2009 27" iMac, that they're still using today! That eMac was an amazing machine, I can proudly say that I'm an Apple user since 2003 thanks to it.

[@schvabek]

@@emave27 Hey, thanks a lot for commenting and sharing your experiences! That’s super cool. Especially games 🥲 Much love 🤟

[@av_oid]

Late 90s, early 2000s Jobs keynotes were actually exciting. Tim Cook pre-packed, pre-recorded keynotes are like watching paint dry, even though the products are better.

[@schvabek]

@@av_oid Yeah, I mean, I understand, it was a different time, but even knowing all that I do miss the “old keynotes”. Tim Cook actually had some pretty good moments when assisting Steve with the presentations, but I agree he doesn’t seem the person who can move people like Steve.

[@johnrickard8512]

These were nice computers, and it always felt like Apple took their role as educators' computers seriously. It certainly helps that their computers are so easy to use that kids have no trouble doing so!

[@johnrickard8512]

In addition, it occurs to me that psychologically the association with an "Apple on the teacher's desk" would make this a natural pairing...or pearing if you will.

[@schvabek]

@@johnrickard8512 I always envied seeing American schools with all the cool Apple computer labs. We just didn’t have anything like that back in the day.

[@schvabek]

@@johnrickard8512 That’s… Genius 😂

[@yesamster]

This was my first apple computer! Got it for £50 in 2008 from someone locally on eBay when i was a kid. It was an ex university one from Portsmouth Uni. Loved that heavy beast.

[@schvabek]

@@yesamster Hey, thanks for sharing your memories with this beast. I love hearing from you fellows in the States, it seems your schools and unies were full of them, unlike here. Cheers!

[@Nietzman]

Pro tip; when your editing software suggests it can cut out pauses in your voiceover; you're allowed to decline.

[@schvabek]

Haha, I actually do all that manually 😂 I don’t like having long pauses in the voiceover. Is it annoying/bothersome?

[@kevinbanahan2390]

I used to buy many of the eMac from a recycling company for $25.00 each. Very heavy and actually injured my left arm lifting them. So I would get like ten at a time. One guy had like hundred and was paid to remove them. Said ten bucks each if I bought all of them so invested $1000. Setup a few folding tables and had about six of my buddies come over for a beer and pizza party. We spent a few hours reformatting them and setting up the newest macOS they took. I also got 200 airport WiFi cards in a box for 100 bucks. Had to add them as they never had WiFi at the schools. We used to do a computer shows and sold them for 125.00 each. At the shows most of the vendors were selling them for over two hundred each. Some were mad I was under cutting them at 125.00. The funny part the other dealers very buying just my airport cards for fifteen bucks as were on eBay for 25-30 dollars each. Win, win either way. The best way to setup a eMac at home was to put it in a corner of a room. That way they didn’t stick out as much. The speakers had great sound quality.

[@schvabek]

@@kevinbanahan2390 Man, what a story!! I can’t imagine what a 100 of these looked in one spot. Just awesome. Made some good money, too! As far as I can tell from the comments, these really shot up in value. Here where I live they definitely weren’t as common. Apple back than in general wasn’t as present as in the States.

[@thethriftyfawn]

*GASP!!!* Oh my goodness, congrats on 1K!!! ✨️😭🎉✨️

[@schvabek]

Hey, thanks so much! Wasn’t quite on your cue, but we did get there and eventually ❤️ You rock btw! 🤘

[@thethriftyfawn]

@@schvabek Thanks! This channel ROCKS 😎

[@ank2000]

Great playing! I used to play that same solo about 20 years ago :)

[@schvabek]

Hey, man, thanks for making it till the end! You rock! 🤟

[@danielktdoranie]

So there was a bug in the computer! Ha ha ha get it? My advice buy some electronic contact cleaner, will work a lot better than rubbing alcohol. For gold contacts use a rubber eraser, rubbing the contacts with the rubber eraser. It will make that gold shine! I have owned two of these eMacs, briefly. The first one I got was in 2006, I gave it to a friend who does music production (I owned iBooks and PowerBooks at the time, didn’t need it). In 2012 I bought one in local town I visited and was staying in for work for a week. When it became time to check out I looked at that heavy AF eMac and said “NOPE!” and I left it in the hotel room ha ha

[@schvabek]

@@danielktdoranie Hey, man, thanks a lot for commenting and sharing your experiences! And for the advice too! I do have contact cleaner, but as usually use that for cleaning pots and things. If the alcohol hadn’t worked, I would’ve tried that. And I did use an eraser on the pins off camera, that’s a classic move! 🤟 Much love!

[@wilsondavenport6939]

If Apple could release a MacBook that was 499 and 399 for educational then they could easily be on top

[@schvabek]

@@wilsondavenport6939 Right? I miss the plastic cheaper and more upgradeable macs. I got exited when they announced the return of the MacBook in 2015, but… yeah.

[@nelsonpun]

Try a rubber band with a stripped screw. Usually works for me. Lay it on the screw hole and push in while you screw

[@schvabek]

@@nelsonpun I’ve seen this hack like a billion times, but it’s one of those you never think off in the heat of the moment 😂 Thanks!

[@markockwell]

Still have one in my Cupboard Awesome Mac for its Time ......

[@schvabek]

@@markockwell Hey, that’s great! Must be one hell of a cupboard to hold it 😂

[@markockwell]

@@schvabek Just looked and found my old G4 iBook as well - Bonus they still work ....... 🤣👍🏻

[@schvabek]

@@markockwell I’ll take full responsibility for inspiring you to go dig through your old macs! Awesome! I had the G3 iBook as a kid.

[@markockwell]

@@schvabek LOL > I will say it was your fault ...... Just came across my first Laptop - G3 MacBook - The black chunky boy with swappable cd/hard drive caddies LOL - I forgot about them until now . Thanks Mate ..... Retro Computing at its finest

[@schvabek]

@@markockwell Oh, that’s awesome! I don’t currently have any old 90’s PowerBooks, I’d like to take a look at one at some point. Cheers! 🤟

[@enabasic6862]

32:18 you did it again!!! 😂😂

[@schvabek]

Haha I guess it’s my new catchphrase 😂

[@HrutkayMods]

Amazing video bud... subbed!

[@HrutkayMods]

btw swivel base is worth A LOT of money. good score!

[@schvabek]

@@HrutkayMods Thanks man, appreciated, more than you think! Also, I had no idea the base was worth anything, until people started telling me in the comments!

[@HrutkayMods]

@@schvabek yeah I got lucky with my bases, all 3 of my eMacs came with them apparently Sean from Action Retro got lucky too lol. You're welcome btw bud :)

[@ferrreira]

I did a Final Cut course using it. It was a great machine

[@schvabek]

@@ferrreira That’s awesome! Must’ve been great learning all of that in the early 2000’s.

[@thethriftyfawn]

WOW- what a transformation!!! The first few attempts initially had me a bit worried, but I'm very happy it all worked out! That machine appeared to be quite filthy and unattractive at the beginning, but it cleaned up so nicely and looks SO COOL... well worth the $40!!! I actually LAUGHED OUT LOUD when you were excited to put the recipes on a USB stick and send them to your mom LOL!!! 😆 Excellent work on that transformation!

[@schvabek]

Thanks again! 🤟 Yeah, you never know what you’ll find on these old machines. It makes me so happy to find someone’s memories I’m able to share with others ❤

[@naquirodriguezdelatorre2958]

I hated working on those machines when i worked for Apple

[@schvabek]

@@naquirodriguezdelatorre2958 Hey, thanks a lot for commenting! Anything in particular you hated about working on them? Just curious 🤟

[@naquirodriguezdelatorre2958]

@@schvabek capicators going bad on the logic board required a swap of the logic board.

[@schvabek]

@@naquirodriguezdelatorre2958 I’ve read horror stories about the caps on these things, but as I’ve said, just looking at them, they seemed fine. I know that doesn’t really mean anything, so I might just recap this thing in the near future (while it’s still working)

[@davidmullins3802]

I have one of those devices, if you need ram for it or a 500 SSD Other World Computer sell both of those device to upgrade that computer. I like mine.

[@schvabek]

@@davidmullins3802 Hey, thanks so much for the heads up! I don’t really think I need the upgrades, the computer ram just fine with the stock configuration, but it’s good to know I can get parts for it if need be! Cheers!

[@stephanemignot100]

I use it to play Amiga and DOS games, my stand is a MT-32, great mix....

[@schvabek]

@@stephanemignot100 Hey, man, thanks for commenting! What emulator do you use for DOS/Amiga?

[@stephanemignot100]

@@schvabek Jit versions of DOSBox and E-UAE. I play Mac games too of course, including source port. I missed CRTs, I bought it right before the panndemic, nice timing. Shadow Warrior and Duke3d, 640x480@138fps/hz, nothing can't beat that! :)

[@schvabek]

@@stephanemignot100 That’s awesome! 🤟

[@SalivatingSteve]

24:33 Connectix Virtual GameStation could run PS1 games perfectly, but it only runs on an iMac G3 or iBook G3.

[@schvabek]

@@SalivatingSteve That’s true! I did try it on me Power Mac G4 and it wouldn’t run, but I’ll do a repair/overview video on my iMac G3 so we’ll give Connectix a try!

[@Andrew-v1b4o]

My school had Apple computers

[@schvabek]

@@Andrew-v1b4o That’s awesome! I always liked seeing Apple stuff in American schools, we just didn’t have anything like that here.

[@gentuxable]

20:09 Recovery mode came much much later with like 2009ish Intel Macs

[@schvabek]

Hey, thanks for commenting! Huh, really? Didn’t know that, thanks for letting me know! 🤟🤟

[@kFY514]

@@gentuxable I'm pretty sure it didn't really "come" with any particular hardware, but rather with an OS version - the first version that added the recovery mode was OS X 10.7 Lion, released in 2011. That's indeed Intel-only, though.

[@gentuxable]

​@@kFY514 I agree that if you have Lion or newer and your hard drive still works you can use Command+R on machines that run Lion. But if your hard drive fails, Internet Recovery to download and boot directly is only available on those newer hardware models.

[@rickkarrer8370]

I was just about to say thing!

[@schvabek]

@@kFY514 Thanks for the heads up!

[@christopherdecorte1599]

I paid 80 dollars just for the base on my emac last year

[@schvabek]

@@christopherdecorte1599 Jesus 😬 Are they that expensive/valuable where you live?

[@christopherdecorte1599]

@schvabek it's the only one I could find online ebay.

[@95Comics]

great video! i love my emac, but it was lost in a house fire last year. but if you max out the ram, and use an ssd, it can run modern ppc linux! it plays youtube/streams movies with no problem. before it was ruined i was even going to make a sorbet leopard partition. even standard leopard is way better for emac but u need more ram.

[@schvabek]

Hey, thanks so much for commenting and sharing your experience! Sad to hear about your emac, that sucks! But it would be awesome seeing this thing run modern websites, maybe I’ll try that sometimes! Cheers! 🤘

[@HrutkayMods]

🙋🏻‍♂ Sean 😃

[@schvabek]

@@HrutkayMods 😂

[@HrutkayMods]

@@schvabek he's one of my Patreon Supporters lol

[@schvabek]

@@HrutkayMods oh, I thought I missed a joke there or something 😂 So nice to see people getting together in my comment section ❤️

[@idonotknowwhyyoutubeletsyo5893]

That's still really cheap for a used emac. I can't find anything that would sell under 900€ here even if it's in garbage condition and barely working.

[@schvabek]

@@idonotknowwhyyoutubeletsyo5893 Jesus, seriously? Who’s buying them for 900 bucks!? 😓

[@themajasticcreature]

where are you from? that "o jebote pas" sounds awfully familiar XD

[@schvabek]

@@themajasticcreature Hrvatska 😁

[@lachlanlau]

what about drilling the screw as a last resort.. no plastic needs breaking

[@schvabek]

@@lachlanlauwell, I didn’t break the plastic cover, it came out in the end. 🤷‍♂️ I was just raging 😂

[@lachlanlau]

@@schvabek I saw, but I was confused as to why you were thinking of forcing the plastic and not drilling the screw..

[@schvabek]

@@lachlanlau I feel like breaking things when I’m pissed 🤷‍♂️😂

[@mikoaj6325]

23:20 polish moment

[@schvabek]

Croatian, actually 😁

[@kFY514]

There's another Polish moment at 13:58, as the primary language of labelling on that IPA container is indeed Polish. Also, fun fact: "jebać" in Polish is a verb, meaning "to fuck", while "jebač"/"јебач" in BCMS is a noun, meaning "a fucker". We'd spell that as "jebacz" in Polish, but we more commonly say "jebaka" to express a similar concept ;)

[@schvabek]

@@kFY514 Hey, the IPA really is from Poland! Good Slavic knowledge too! 😎🤟

[@aaroninclub]

did you say “128 gigs” ???!!!!

[@schvabek]

@@aaroninclub I did 😂 Easy mistake to make nowadays I guess lol

[@RetroGigabyte]

in the dis you have typo 20002 it needs to be 2002

[@schvabek]

@@RetroGigabyte Hey, thanks for the heads up, I’ll fix it!

[@retzel1472]

About half way through the video the power light was flashing, was that just the camera or was that indicating something. I saw in the final video clips, after the clean up, it was solid. Just wondered if you knew what was going on there?

[@schvabek]

@@retzel1472 Huh, could you give the timestamp of the thing flashing? I haven’t noticed anything when testing out the computer, it all pretty much worked after swapping the RAM.

[@thethriftyfawn]

Around 16:11 or so?

[@schvabek]

@@thethriftyfawnNo idea what that’s about 🤷‍♂️

[@karmakaruna]

I have 4 of these lol. Why? I don't know but if I see free macs I don't refuse them. 😅

[@schvabek]

@@karmakaruna that’s awesome, but damn, man, where do you keep them? 😂

[@karmakaruna]

@@schvabek In the closet with my 150 other vintage computers lol. I have about 25 G5 iMacs in there too, might have every model they made. Also three different colors of the original 1999 iMac G3.

[@schvabek]

@@karmakaruna That’s cool. Hopefully at some point you’ll get to display them somewhere! Cheers!

[@karmakaruna]

@@schvabek They are organized by CPU platform oldest to newest on shelving, along with any related peripherals. I constantly rotate out rigs I wanna play with, also use them for music making and other kinds of art. Each system is fully loaded with as many applications from that system's year. Like wanna relive a 2002 music workstation experience? I've got a system for that. Late 90s CAD and 3D? Another one. So they are more treated like tools I can quickly pull from my "archives" lol. Only keep the equipment at my workstation I'm currently using. I still work hard to keep everything pristine and in working condition 😊

[@schvabek]

@@karmakaruna That’s really cool! I also have a bunch of old tech stashed away, and I can’t wait to get the space to organise and display it all.

[@TerrorSyxke]

and now apple doesnt even care about consumers, SOLDERED COMPUTERS LESS PORTS NO HEADPHONE JACK IPAD OS SUCKS

[@schvabek]

@@TerrorSyxke Yeah, a lot has changed… 🙁

[@gentuxable]

11:24 are you trying to use DDR memory in a SDR machine? That will never work.

[@schvabek]

Well, I’ve noticed in time I didn’t grab the right one 😂

[@gentuxable]

@@schvabek yeah I did comment while watching and saw later you realised.

[@schvabek]

@@gentuxable It happens when you’re dumb like me 😂

[@gentuxable]

@schvabek don't be so hard. I worked in the IT department between 2004 and 2008. I had to know it when it was current.

[@ro1934]

Ты решил сделать хорватский музей техники от апл? Падажи, так апл всегда о деньгах думала, какое образование? Лохи чаще купят провальную шляпу, не? Жинке привет! Про винт: это еще ничего. Есть пипидастры в ремонте технике, которые заливают клей в отверстие и винт закручивают, когда отказываешься у них ремонтировать.

[@schvabek]

@@ro1934 Ну тип того)) Хотелось бы когда-нибудь собрать все модели. Тем более что мне очевидно придется в основном о них делать контент, так как он лучше заходит. Насчет винтов, всякое встречал. Но тут прям пиздец был.

[@jesusisunstoppable4438]

Pretended to care about Education

[@GoofyahhuncIeproductions2024]

I’m pretty sure Apple still cares about education. They give many schools discounts for buying iPads and Macs. They are even cheaper than the university discount you can get yourself.

[@schvabek]

@@jesusisunstoppable4438 Heh, I guess it depends on how you look at it 😅

[@schvabek]

@@GoofyahhuncIeproductions2024 Hey, thanks for commenting! It’s always interesting to see American schools full of Apple products, especially from European perspective!

[@GoofyahhuncIeproductions2024]

@@schvabekI know! I find it very fascinating tbh…