I was wondering why when you buy a gateway computer the boxes have a cow pattern all over them. write back soon, Chris Falice. Baltimore, Maryland
Why not?
The company was founded in a cowshed on their family farm, (cant remember the name of the family or what year) using a loan of $10,000 dollars from their Granny. They first started selling computer parts locally,
and from there the business grew.
and the Cow-coloured boxes are from the cowshen they started in
John Larrigan
“82.35% of all statistics are made up on the spot”–Vic Reeves
They were considering a mushroom, but the cow is equally symbolic, actually.
They want you to be prepared. At some point, you will have a cow over a glitch while working on the computer. Then, there’s all the manure you have to go through to solve the problem.
But seriously, folks, it’s the family farm answer as suggested
I think the company’s HQ is in Sioux City, so a cow pattern is kinda appropriate. 
Prairie Rose
If you’re not part of the solution you’re just scumming up the bottom of the beaker.
Gateway was previously a South Dakota company, and if you’ve seen their early T.V. ads (or been to South Dakota) you know that about the only thing that state is good for (beyond a few cool national parks and Mount Rushmore) is their cows.
For whatever it’s worth, though, they have recently relocated their headquarters to San Diego, CA (likely to get that cheap NAFTA labor) so you may see that advertising symbol change. Then again, maybe not. The cow pattern to me sort of says “Hey, we’re down home folks in the boonies who would never screw you on a computer, and way out here, it doesn’t cost much to built 'em” Presumably this makes rival Dell look like big corporate assholes by comparison. Here’s a thought though…buy whichever is cheaper for the options you want and ignore all the marketing crap.
Well, if nothing else it’s an effing brilliant marketing plan. Gateway makes okay computers. About average. Most consumer reports substantiate this. But I know about a dozen folks who bought them over other brands. Why? Pretty cow box. Yikes.
Justin