View source for EMachines

{{Short description|Defunct brand of low-end PCs}}
{{lowercase|title=eMachines}}
{{Infobox brand
| name           = eMachines 
| logo           = eMachines.svg 
| logo_alt       = eMachines Logo 
| producttype    = [[Personal computer]]s 
| 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 computer]]s. 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}}</ref> The company's first computers, the 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 [[eMachines eOne|eOne]], a computer that resembled the [[iMac]], priced at $799, with a $400 [[Rebate (marketing)|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}}</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 news|url=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|last=Gaw|first=Jonathan|date=November 30, 1999|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</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]]}}</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}}</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]]