Gateway, Inc., previously known as Gateway 2000, was an American computer company founded in 1985. At its peak in 2000, the company employed nearly 25,000 people worldwide. However, a global downturn in the personal computer industry at the beginning of 2000 had a major negative impact on Gateway, leading to significant quarterly losses. The companys sales dropped in 2002, and its American market share shrank from 9.3 percent in 1999 to 6.1 percent in 2002. This downturn led to layoffs and store closures. Gateways failure to embrace laptop computers in a timely manner and its lack of international expansion also contributed to its decline. In 2007, the Taiwanese computer giant Acer acquired Gateway for $710 million.
In September 2020, Acer revived the Gateway branding on laptops and tablets sold exclusively through Walmart, marking the return of the iconic cow-spotted boxes. The new lineup includes budget tablets, 2-in-1 laptops, mainstream laptops, and a higher-end Creators series laptop. This move aims to leverage Gateways brand as a "recognizable relic" and Walmarts reach as a retailer. However, it is not expected to significantly impact the overall PC market.
