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 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.{{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}} The company's first computers, the eTower 266 and 300, were sold at $399 or $499 respectively, not including a monitor.{{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 }}
By March 1999, the company was ranked fourth in U.S. computer sales, with a 9.9% market share.
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.{{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}}
In September 1999, the company announced plans to launch an internet service provider.{{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}}
The business acquired Free-PC in November 1999, which had previously provided free computers in exchange for advertising.{{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}}
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.{{cite web | url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/emachines-ipo-price-9-a-share/ | title=EMachines' IPO price: $9 a share | website=ZDNet }} 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.{{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}}
By May 2001, the stock was trading at 38 cents per share and the company was delisted from the NASDAQ.{{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}}
In January 2002, Lap Shun Hui acquired the company for $161 million.{{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}}
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.{{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 }}
In January 2004, the company released the M6805 & M6807 notebooks, the first notebook computers based on the AMD Mobile Athlon 64 processor.{{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}}{{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}}{{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 }}{{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 }} {{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.{{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}}
In October 2007, Acer Inc. acquired Gateway.{{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}}
On January 17, 2013, the eMachines brand was discontinued.{{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}}
References
{{Commons category|EMachines|eMachines}}
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
{{Gateway, Inc.}}
{{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