{{Short description|Defunct brand of low-end PCs}} {{Lowercase title}} {{Infobox brand | name = eMachines | logo = eMachines.svg | logo_alt = eMachines Logo | producttype = Personal computers | currentowner = Acer Inc. (2007–2013) | country = United States | module = {{Infobox company|embed=yes | founder = Lap Shun Hui}} | introduced = {{start date and age|1998|9}} | discontinued = {{end date and age|2013|1|17}} | previousowners = Gateway, Inc. (2004-2007) |website=}} '''eMachines''' was a brand of economical personal computers. In 2004, it was acquired by Gateway, Inc., which was in turn acquired by Acer Inc. in 2007. The eMachines brand was discontinued in 2013.
==History== {{multiple image | align = right | total_width = 320
| image1 = EMachines eTower.jpg | caption1 = eTower
| image2 = EMachinesM5405Laptop.JPG | caption2 = M5405 laptop }} eMachines was founded in September 1998 by Lap Shun Hui as a joint venture of South Korean companies Korea Data Systems and TriGem.<ref name="fourth">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/03/31/business/emachines-is-fourth-in-us-sales-of-pc-s.html|title=Emachines Is Fourth in U.S. Sales of PC's|date=1999-03-31|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-05-15|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=2021-11-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211113033935/https://www.nytimes.com/1999/03/31/business/emachines-is-fourth-in-us-sales-of-pc-s.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The company's first computers, the {{Proper name|eTower 266}} and 300, were sold at $399 or $499 respectively, not including a monitor.<ref>{{cite news | url= https://www.cnn.com/TECH/computing/9809/29/emachines.idg/index.html | title=Emachines readies sub-$500 PCs | first=Ephraim | last=Schwartz | work=CNN | date=September 29, 1998| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011101012926/https://www.cnn.com/TECH/computing/9809/29/emachines.idg/index.html | archive-date=2001-11-01 }}</ref>
By March 1999, the company was ranked fourth in U.S. computer sales, with a 9.9% market share.<ref name="fourth" />
In August 1999, the company released the eOne, a computer that resembled the iMac, priced at $799, with a $400 rebate for customers who signed a 3-year agreement with CompuServe.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/emachines-imac-like-pc-ships-this-week/ | title=eMachines' iMac-like PC ships this week | first=Margaret | last=Kane | work=ZDNet | date=August 6, 1999 | archive-date=April 5, 2023 | access-date=June 4, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405071857/https://www.zdnet.com/article/emachines-imac-like-pc-ships-this-week/ | url-status=live }}</ref>
In September 1999, the company announced plans to launch an internet service provider.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/emachines-net-not-just-another-isp/ | title=eMachines.net not just another ISP | first=John G. | last=Spooner | work=ZDNet | date=September 10, 1999}}</ref>
The business acquired Free-PC in November 1999, which had previously provided free computers in exchange for advertising.<ref>{{cite web|first=Jonathan|last=Gaw|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-nov-30-fi-38943-story.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200826025246/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-nov-30-fi-38943-story.html|title=Low-Cost PC Maker EMachines in Deal to Acquire Free-PC|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|archivedate=August 26, 2020|date=November 30, 1999|accessdate=January 13, 2026|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Doug|last=Olenick|url=http://www.crw.com/news/1999/weekending021299/feb09dig03.asp|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/19990506223144/http://www.crw.com/news/1999/weekending021299/feb09dig03.asp|title=USA Networks Merges With Lycos, Funds Free-PC.com|magazine=Computer Retail Week|archivedate=May 6, 1999|date=February 9, 1999|accessdate=January 13, 2026|url-status=live}}</ref>
On March 24, 2000, near the peak of the dot-com bubble, the company became a public company via an initial public offering, raising $180 million.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/emachines-ipo-price-9-a-share/ | title=EMachines' IPO price: $9 a share | website=ZDNet }}</ref> By that time, the company had sold 2 million computers, but had lost $84.5 million in the previous year on $815 million in sales and a 4% profit margin. Shares fell 8% in their debut. At that time, major shareholders included AOL with a 6.4% stake and Bill T. Gross with a 12.4% stake.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-mar-25-fi-12413-story.html|title=EMachines' IPO Takes 8% Dip in the Market|last=Fields|first=Robin|date=March 25, 2000|work=Los Angeles Times|archive-date=January 25, 2025|access-date=August 15, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250125002646/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-mar-25-fi-12413-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
By May 2001, the stock was trading at 38 cents per share and the company was delisted from the NASDAQ.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-may-25-fi-2405-story.html | title=Irvine's EMachines Booted From Nasdaq | work=Los Angeles Times | date=May 25, 2001}}</ref>
In January 2002, Lap Shun Hui acquired the company for $161 million.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-jan-01-fi-emach1-story.html | title=EMachines Founder Buys Shares | first=James S. | last=Granelli | work=Los Angeles Times | date=January 1, 2002}}</ref>
In December 2003, the company released the T6000 desktop, the world's first mass-marketed AMD Athlon 64-based system, retailing at US$1,299. The systems were primarily sold through Best Buy stores, but the PCs were also available online.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.geek.com/blurb/emachines-selling-loaded-athlon-64-system-551426/ | title=eMachines selling loaded Athlon 64 system | work=Geek.com | date=December 11, 2003 | access-date=June 4, 2018 | archive-date=April 28, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170428075310/http://www.geek.com/blurb/emachines-selling-loaded-athlon-64-system-551426/ | url-status=dead }}</ref>
In January 2004, the company released the M6805 & M6807 notebooks, the first notebook computers based on the AMD Mobile Athlon 64 processor.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2004-03-16 |title=eMachines M6805 Athlon 64 Notebook Review - PC Perspective |url=https://pcper.com/2004/03/emachines-m6805-athlon-64-notebook-review/ |access-date=2024-11-09 |website=pcper.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release | url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20040119005104/en/eMachines-Introduces-64-Bit-Wireless-Widescreen-Notebook-Line | title=eMachines Introduces 64-Bit Wireless Widescreen Notebook Line; Company Is First Major PC Brand to Incorporate Mobile AMD Athlon 64 Processor for Mobile Computing | publisher=Business Wire | date=January 19, 2004}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2004-02-02 |title=eMachines M6805 official site archive |url=http://www.emachines.com/products/products.html?prod=eMachines_M6805 |access-date=2024-11-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040202155505/http://www.emachines.com/products/products.html?prod=eMachines_M6805 |archive-date=2 February 2004 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2004-01-18 |title=eMachines M6807 official site archive |url=http://www.emachines.com/products/products.html?prod=eMachines_M6807 |access-date=2024-11-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040118164308/http://www.emachines.com/products/products.html?prod=eMachines_M6807 |archive-date=18 January 2004 }}</ref> {{Third-party inline|date=April 2021}}
In March 2004, the company was acquired by Gateway Inc. for 50 million shares of Gateway common stock and $30 million cash. Wayne Inouye, CEO of eMachines, became CEO of Gateway, with founder Ted Waitt stepping down.<ref>{{cite press release | url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20070918006505/en/Gateway-Completes-Acquisition-eMachines | title=Gateway Completes Acquisition of eMachines | publisher=Business Wire | date=March 11, 2004 | access-date=June 4, 2018 | archive-date=December 5, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181205145730/https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20070918006505/en/Gateway-Completes-Acquisition-eMachines | url-status=live }}</ref>
In October 2007, Acer Inc. acquired Gateway.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/11/AR2007101100822.html|title=Acer completes Gateway share purchase|last=Nystedt|first=Dan|date=2007-10-11|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=2019-05-15|agency=PC World|language=en-US|issn=0190-8286}}</ref>
On January 17, 2013, the eMachines brand was discontinued.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pcworld.com/article/2026208/acer-sheds-emachines-turns-to-gateway-and-packard-bell-for-post-pc-era.html|title=Acer sheds eMachines, turns to Gateway and Packard Bell for post-PC era|last=Shah|first=Agam|date=2013-01-24|website=PCWorld|language=en|access-date=2019-05-15}}</ref>
==References== {{Commons category|EMachines|eMachines}} {{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
{{Gateway, Inc.}} {{Acer Inc.}}
Category:EMachines Category:Acer Inc. Category:Computer companies established in 1998 Category:Computer companies disestablished in 2013 Category:1998 establishments in California Category:2013 disestablishments in California Category:Defunct computer companies of the United States Category:Defunct companies based in California Category:Defunct computer hardware companies Category:Defunct computer systems companies Category:Dot-com bubble Category:Gateway, Inc. Category: 2000 initial public offerings Category: 2004 mergers and acquisitions Category: Companies formerly listed on the Nasdaq Category:Defunct computer companies based in California