The history of low-budget eMachines computers

Ubiquity paired with mediocrity. That's how LGR aptly refers to eMachines, the budget-friendly low-cost computers that helped Windows gain a huge market share in the '90s. The company was later bought by Gateway and then Acer before completely shutting down. But for a while at least, eMachines were everywhere. They ushered in a time when people cared more about the bottom line than quality and functionality. They sold mainly because it was harder at the time to compare computers while shopping. Consumers often just wanted a computer but didn't know what kind and the one for $299 certainly looked wonderful next to $1000+ machines that basically did the same thing (sort of).

 

PS: Their website is still currently up even though the company has gone out of business.