What are the major differences between the iMac G4 "Flat Panel" and the eMac models?

The most substantial difference between the iMac G4 and the eMac models is apparent with even a quick glance at the respective systems.

Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (iMac G4 - Left, eMac - Right)

Both the iMac G4 and eMac use all-in-one designs, but the two are substantially different externally. The iMac G4 models use an attractive 10.6" half-sphere, ice white case with a chromed stainless steel neck that supports a 15 inch, 17 inch, or 20 inch TFT Active Matrix LCD display, whereas the eMac models have 17 inch CRT displays in large 50 pound (22.7 kg) ice white all-in-one cases.

The eMac was originally designed to be an inexpensive model exclusively for the education market -- perhaps after feedback from educators that the iMac G4 was too "fragile" for classroom use, particularly for the K-12 segment -- but it later was released as a low-cost consumer model as well.

Internally, although there is quite a bit of variation between models in different lines, these models have a great deal in common in aggregate. All have PowerPC G4 processors, for example, and iMac G4 and eMac models available at the same time often were configured quite similarly as well.

Please refer to the "Comparison Q&As" from the iMac G4 Q&A and eMac Q&A for a review of each line and the Ultimate Mac Comparison feature to compare the details of iMac G4 to any eMac model.