FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

GATEWAY 2000 survey finds that children who use PCs get better grades
Findings show personal computer use among children is "cool"

NORTH SIOUX CITY, SD, June 4, 1997 - A national survey of families shows that regular access to a personal computer has improved the grades of the children who use them, according to findings of the independent study commissioned by Gateway 2000.

The survey shows that 56 percent of students ages 10 to 18 reported significant grade improvement after they began to make regular use of computers. Among children ages 10 to 12, grade improvements were reported by 67 percent of students. Parents were surveyed alongside their children and they confirmed that computer use coincided with improvements in their grades.

"Computers are becoming an important tool in helping our children learn," said Luanne Flikkema, director of Global Research at North Sioux City, SD-based direct PC marketing company. "This is the first study that shows a definitive, statistically significant correlation between PC use and academic performance. It appears that kids who use PCs have a real advantage."

The survey also shows that the image computer users as "nerds" or "geeks" is overblown. Findings showed that 63 percent of children believe kids who use a PC well are considered "smart;" and an additional 28 percent of students consider regular PC usage "cool".

Other survey findings include: ∑ 92% of kids regularly use a PC for school work ∑ 63% of children have been using a PC for more than 3 years ∑ 61% of kids who regularly use a PC also use the Internet and/or e-mail ∑ In 45% of households with only one PC, a child is the primary user

"Our nationís children are becoming computer literate," said Flikkema. "Not only is PC usage among children growing, but it is having an increasingly significant impact on their ability to perform in the classroom."

About Gateway 2000
Gateway 2000, Inc., a Fortune 500 company founded in 1985, is a global leader in the direct marketing of PCs. The company, headquartered in North Sioux City, South Dakota, has manufacturing facilities in the United States, Ireland and Malaysia, and employs over 10,000 people worldwide. Gateway 2000 products and services consistently win top awards from leading industry publications. In 1996, the company shipped 1.9 million systems and reported revenue of $5 billion. Revenue for the first quarter of 1997 was $1.4 billion with net income of $67.5 million.

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