GATEWAY

Gateway opens doors to the world of computers. The company provides desktop and portable PCs, displays, and computer accessories. It also offers support services for its products, as well as for electronics products by other manufacturers. The company sells its products through retailers (Best Buy, Office Depot, Wal-Mart), e-tailers (Newegg), and various additional channel partners. Gateway was acquired by Taiwan-based Acer for $710 million in 2007. The combined company ranks behind only Hewlett-Packard and Dell in global PC sales. Acer also markets the eMachines and Packard Bell brands.

HEWLETT-PACKARD

HP wants to be "it" when it comes to IT. Hewlett-Packard provides one of the tech world's most comprehensive portfolios of hardware, software, and services. Its products include personal computers, servers, storage devices, printers, and networking equipment. The company's service unit provides IT and business process outsourcing, application development and management, consulting, systems integration, and other technology services. HP's software products include enterprise IT management, information management, business intelligence, and carrier-grade communications applications. The company markets to consumers, businesses, government agencies, and schools in more than 170 countries.