There was a time when  many people would have bet on Gateway to become the largest direct retailer of computers in America instead of Dell. They had a funky vibe going with their black and white cow-spotted boxes, and the future seemed very bright indeed. That future never materialized, and Gateway was acquired by Acer last year for a comparatively modest 710 million dollars. Now Gateway has completely ended the business model that put them on the map: Direct Sales. “We believe that our retail and