Emacs is an enormously powerful, flexible and configurable text editor. In addition to being a well-known tool for computer programmers, it is also an unsurpassed environment for editing LaTeX and XML files. However, its default behavior is in many ways very different from what has become standard for most other applications. Because of this, and because of its complexity, many people shy away from it, non-programmers in particular.
What is Easymacs?
Easymacs is an easy-to-learn, one-size-fits-all configuration for new users of GNU Emacs. It sets up key bindings that attempt to conform to a common denominator of the Gnome/KDE/OS X/Microsoft Windows human interface guidelines, and provides function-key bindings for other powerful Emacs features. It is fully documented, and the new user can productively edit text right away, without going through the Emacs tutorial. Many commonly-used functions can be accessed without having to learn the "chords", or multiple serial keystrokes that Emacs uses by default.
Who is it for?
Easymacs was designed with the non-programmer in mind, someone who would like to use Emacs to edit mainly text files, especially LaTeX and TEI-conforming XML. Since many aspects of the configuration of Emacs require a certain knowledge of programming, this sort of person might find the default behavior of Emacs too foreign and too hard to reconfigure.
In other words, Easymacs is an Emacs configuration for people who ...
... hate Emacs.
... find Emacs confusing.
... want to get started quickly.
... are accustomed to modern keyboard shortcuts.
... can't remember long, cryptic sequences of keystrokes.
... don't want to spend years configuring their text editor.
... don't like reading masses of documentation.
... don't like the Emacs tutorial.
... are impatient.
... are lazy.
Emacs vs. Easymacs
It's certainly worth trying to use Emacs "correctly" to see if you like its default behavior. Just install Emacs and follow the instructions on screen to do the tutorial. If you like it, just carry on and do not install Easymacs.
If, however, you find the Emacs tutorial annoying, the keystrokes it describes are confusing, or hard to remember, or hard to type, or make your fingers hurt, then Easymacs might be for you. If you do install Easymacs, be aware that you will be learning a completely non-standard way of using Emacs.
Whereas Emacs provides you with infinite flexibility to customize it, leaning how to do so, and coming up with a suitable configuration can be very time-consuming and eventually will probably require some knowledge of computer programming.
Easymacs eliminates much of this complexity at the expense of some of this power and flexibility. For more information on the trade-offs and assumptions made by Easymacs, see the philosophy page.