eMonster 550r
Author: Anonymous Its yet another eMonster! Welcome to another special OEM review. This is is the desktop for the eMachines eMonster 550r. It comes with Windows 98 SE, an Intel Pentium 3 550 processor, 64MB of RAM and a 15GB HDD. The desktop doesn't look half different from other eMonster's we've reviewed. Compared to the 800 though which came with Windows ME, it's a lot different. The application selection on the desktop for both the 550r and the 600 are not that different, they're mostly alike. Anyways, with all that information digested and out of the way let's dig in. So first we're looking at the version of the infamous eWare Toolbar. This is version 1.2 build 106. Same exact version as in the 600 actually. PowerDVD version seems to be the same too. I wonder why its so similar. This version is the same too. I'm seeing a pattern here. You know one thing I noticed. The StarOffice document isn't on the desktop on this one but it is on the 600. So there are still minor differences. Adobe version is the same though. Now here's one of the major differences. The eMonster 600 never had this. The 550r on the other hand, does. Its basically a Nero burner but from another company and possibly before Nero existed (I have no clue when they were founded). Its called Adaptec Easy CD Creator and is version 3.5c. It also has a separate application named CD Copier Deluxe but it doesn't work in this VM since apparently there are no supported CD recorders so it just closes after showing the dialog. Here's another Adaptec program named DirectCD. This is version 2.5d. It has the same compile/release date funnily enough. It frankly seems like it does the same thing as the Easy CD Creator. This came with DirectCD as well, its a CD-RW eraser. Seems nice, kind of basic though. This model also comes with version 5.1a of Sun Microsystems StarOffice. This is the exact same version that came with the 600. Still nice I guess. I know this review seemed kind of off since we didn't check this but don't worry, I didn't forget. Its basically the same selection as most other eMachines PC's of the time. No custom screensavers as well. Ah good old Netscape. No computer of the 90's would be normal without this. It comes with version 4.61. Not going to install it though. Well that's all for this special OEM review and I'll see you in the next one |