Having used both the 1.42 and the 1.25 models, I personally favor them as the best Macs of all time!
That's a strong statement but here's why I say it.
(1) a preference for glass CRT over plastic LCD and later lightweight, thin screens due to sharpness, clarity and stronger true colors. The drawback here is the weight of the CRT. G4 eMacs are desktop models.
(2) preference for the PPC processor - it may not be as fast as the Intel models but I like the results of video and audio work done with the G4. The Mac lost its individuality when Intel-inside models appeared. The G5s in many of the iMacs had overheating problems and were the excuse for the processor switch which ultimately made the Mac "Windows-compatible." The latest Amiga was reported to be using the Motorola G6 - has Motorola found a way to make them run cooler in small packages? What would the Mac world be like had Apple worked with Motorola to overcome the problems and kept producing G-series processor models?
(3) preference for Tiger over Leopard - this is a good thing as Tiger is fast and suited to the G4 and Leopard runs faster on the Intel. The new look and features of Leopard were not enough to convince me to upgrade and I like the option to run older Classic software. The later the Mac OS X system, the more the features become tailored for Intel processors and the latest software and hardware. There is also the consideration that the later the software version, the more intrusive it is on personal privacy. This is true of operating systems and user software that collects personal information.
(4) preference for Tiger-compatible 3rd party software and budgetary restraints - I reached a point where I decided that I had spent enough money on computers, software and add-on hardware. I decided to stick with what I had and make it work for as long as possible. Also, I like a computer with an internal modem. And, I believe that the hardware inside a G4 eMac is of a higher quality than most of the hardware in later models of Mac and PC computers. The durability and longevity of newer computers is not what it once was.
(5) 1.25 with 2 gb memory may run faster than 1.42 with 2 gb - this is just a feeling with no benchmarks to back it up. Either way, with 2 gb, the G4 eMacs are fast enough to run multiple programs without significant slowdowns. The factory eMac hard drives are really not large enough for a lot of storage. That's better handled by a USB or FireWire external drive. The less space on the internal HD, the slower the system will run, so it's best to leave a lot of disc space for virtual memory. Yes, G4 eMacs will accept and recognize 2- 1 gb memory modules. The official Apple limit for the G4 eMac is below that but OWC, Low End Mac and other sources confirm the 2 gb max and many users are enjoying that extra memory when working with multiple programs and large files.
(5) Although I have the manuals and schematics for the G4 eMacs, working inside would probably be a bit tedious at times. One of the major drawbacks of Apple computers is that they are generally more difficult to work on from a tech point of view than most PCs, including laptop models. Apple builds them that way so that we will buy Apple Care and leave it to trained techs. The PPC models, no longer officially supported by Apple, are now in the domain of DIYers or techs who still work on the older models. The CRT discharge is a bit scary although I have done similar operations before. If ever necessary, I would approach it with great care. There is a lot of info available at websites and blogs about working inside an eMac. One guy, whose CRT went dark, extracted sufficient parts for a "headless eMac" viewed on an external flat-panel monitor. Should the need arise, feeding output to an external monitor and speakers, reading and writing with an external CD-DVD and booting from an external USB or FireWire drive can delay the opening of the case.
(6) Finally, I would recommend buying a G4 eMac even now because the prices are as low as they have been and they are still available. Most available models are refurbs and there are Mac stores and tech shops in many locations that sell them as well as parts and provide repair and tech support if needed. This is one of the good things about the Mac community - older Mac models are still for sale and there is a lot of support available for them. A large number of the early G5 iMacs had problems with bad capacitors and that, along with the overheating problems, is a strong point for not buying any of those models unless all the capacitors have been replaced. Most refurb jobs don't include a capacitor replacement. I worked with a first-generation Intel core solo iMac that had an overheating problem requiring a logic board replacement. When too much is packed inside too small an area, overheating and early failure of parts is a possibility.
