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                                                                EXHIBIT (a)(8)

                                                     NEWS
                                                     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                                                     Contact:
                                                     Mike Kilroy or Rick Havacko
                                                     Maples Communications
                                                     (949) 253-8737
                                                     mkilroy@maples.com

  EMACHINES, INC. AND EM HOLDINGS, INC. ANNOUNCE AGREEMENT TO REMOVE TEMPORARY
           RESTRAINING ORDER; TENDER OFFER EXTENDED TO DEC. 28, 2001

     IRVINE, Calif., Dec. 19, 2001 -- Earlier today, the parties in the matter
of David Packard, on behalf of himself and all other similarly situated, v.
eMachines, Inc. reached an agreement in principle to, among other matters,
withdraw and vacate the temporary restraining order previously issued enjoining
the merger. As part of the agreement in principle, the plaintiffs dropped their
attempt to seek other injunctive relief as well. The agreement in principle is
conditioned upon execution of definitive documentation.

     In addition, the tender offer for all the outstanding shares of common
stock of eMachines made by Empire Acquisition Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary
of EM Holdings, has been extended until 9:00 a.m. Eastern time on Friday, Dec.
28, 2001. The tender offer had been scheduled to expire at 9:00 Eastern time on
Thursday, Dec. 27, 2001.

About eMachines, Inc.
eMachines, Inc. (OTCBB:EEEE) is a leading provider of affordable, high-value
personal computers. Founded in September 1998, eMachines began selling its
low-cost eTower(R) desktop computers in November 1998. In June 1999, eMachines
sold the third-highest number of PCs through retailers in the United States,
according to leading market research organizations, and presently holds this
number three market share position. Since inception, eMachines has shipped more
than four-million PCs through leading national and international retailers,
catalog and online merchandisers. Approximately one of every two eMachines
consumers is a first-time PC buyer, based on owner registrations with eMachines.
eMachines' Web site is located at http://www.emachines.com.

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Where to Find More Information

Holders of securities should read each of the tender offer statement on Schedule
TO (including a "going-private" Transaction Statement on Schedule 13E-3) filed
by EM Holdings and eMachines and the Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on
Schedule 14D-9 filed by eMachines with the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission, as each contains important information about the tender offer.
Investors can obtain such tender offer statement on Schedule TO and such
Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 and Transaction
Statement on Schedule 13E-3, and other documents to be filed by EM Holdings and
eMachines, for free from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's website
at http://www.sec.gov. In addition, the Schedule 14D-9 and Transaction Statement
on Schedule 13E-3 and other documents to be filed with the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission by eMachines may be obtained free of charge from eMachines
by directing a request to: Shareholder Information, 14350 Myford Road, Bldg.
100, Irvine, CA 92606.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements relating to future
events and results that are based on eMachines' current expectations. These
statements relate to the outlook and prospects for eMachines and the markets in
which it operates. These statements involve risks and uncertainties including,
without limitation, the execution of definitive documentation in connection with
the agreement in principle, litigation in which eMachines is or may become
involved, the ability of eMachines to consummate the transaction with EM
Holdings, the level of demand for eMachines' products and services, eMachines'
and its suppliers' ability to timely develop, deliver, and support new and
existing products and services, eMachines' ability to manage and liquidate its
inventory, reduce operating expenses and predict changes in the PC market, the
cost and availability of key product components, competitive pressures relating
to price reductions, new product introductions by third parties, technological
innovations, eMachines' ability to enter new markets and improve customer
service, and overall market conditions, including demand for computers.

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