System Builder Summit Participants Recognized for Accomplishments Unique to the White Box Market

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Bill Booth            
Technology Event Management       
Tel (503) 675-3550
Email: bbooth@technologyevents.com      
Judy Grillo            
Cricket Communications, Inc.      
Tel (954) 724-5323         
Email: cricketcomm@aol.com
         
Portland, Oregon March 09, 2001 -- Vision Events, a Gartner, Inc. (NYSE: IT and ITB) company has announced the winners of the prestigious Peak PerformerÔ Awards. Peak Performer Award recipients were chosen from 200 system builders and more than 100 vendor corporations from the United States and Canada who recently attended System Builder Summit. Nominees and winners were honored for excellence and outstanding achievements during a formal dinner and ceremony during the event which took place March 4-7, 2001 at the Renaissance Orlando Resort in Orlando, Florida.

Peak Performer Awards were presented to system builders based upon detailed company submissions highlighting achievements in four categories. Submissions were reviewed and winners selected by the Summit Awards Advisory Committee. The winners were:

Business of the Year - Alienware Corporation
This award was given for the highest annual growth of a system builder corporation. Alienware's revenue has minimally doubled year after year since established in 1996. Alienware manufactures high-end computer gaming machines, DV systems, and high performance workstations.

New Business Achievement - Ace Computers
The winner was selected for success in a new product, market or service sector. Ace Computers was chosen for its Ace WhisperProÔ Silent PC which offers reduced ambient noise while still delivering the newest technology to libraries, schools, broadcast stations and other vertical markets nationally.

Customer Care Award - Alden Associates
The company was chosen for quality in the ongoing service and support given to customers. Alden Associates currently holds all 3 Washington State white-box open purchasing contracts for the K-12 school districts in the state; is the premier provider for 85 school districts; and currently delivers quality service for nearly 58,000 computers.

Community Service Award - Learning Systems Technologies
This award was for the dedication to improving the quality of life in the community. Learning Systems Technologies involvement with the Boys & Girls Club of Northeast Alabama including fundraising, providing free Internet service, and staffing the CART program -- Computer Awareness and Repair Technology -- with disadvantaged youth.

Vendor nominees and winners were selected based on confidential surveys completed by system builders during the Summit, and based on presentations given during the event. The Peak Performer Awards were presented to vendors in five categories. The winners were:

Best System Builder Program or Promotion - ATI Technologies, Inc.
This was for the company with the most targeted and comprehensive system builder strategy.

Best Overall Presentation - Intel Corporation
The award was for creativity in design and delivery of the companys message.

Best Product/Hardware -- AMD
The company was selected for excellence in a peripheral, component or networking product.

Best Product/Software - PowerQuest Corporation
This award was for a company that showed excellence in an application or system software product.

For Best Service Provider - Everdream Corporation
This award recognizes a distinctive service that enhances system builders business offerings.

For further information, including a complete list of nominees, please contact Judy Grillo at 954-724-5323 or cricketcomm@aol.com.

About System Builder Summit
System Builder Summit is a semi-annual event produced by Vision Events, a Gartner, Inc. company based in Bedford, New Hampshire. System Builder Summit Fall 2001 takes place September 23 -- 26, and brings regional market leaders in the system builder channel from North America and Latin America to San Diego, California to meet with technology vendors, international distributors, and service providers. For more information, visit www.systembuildersummit.com or call (503) 675-3550. Vision Events produces business events that bring together the leading computer channel vendors and resellers face-to-face in private boardroom appointments with the focus of increasing sales and building relationships. For more information, visit the web site at www.visionevents.com or call (603) 577-9856.

About Gartner
Gartner provides unrivaled thought leadership for more than 10,000 organizations, helping clients to achieve their business objectives through the intelligent and efficient use of technology. Additionally, Gartner helps technology companies identify and maximize technology market opportunities. Gartner's technology content and strong brand reach IT professionals globally through Gartner Research, its research and advisory unit; Gartner Consulting; Gartner Events, including Gartner's renowned Symposia; and at www.gartner.com. Gartner subsidiary TechRepublic, Inc. (www.techrepublic.com) is the leading online destination developed exclusively for IT professionals by IT professionals. Gartner, founded in 1979 and headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, achieved fiscal 2000 revenues of $859 million. Gartner's 4,600 associates, including 1,400 research analysts and consultants, are in more than 80 locations worldwide. For more information about Gartner's industry-leading products and services, please visit us on the Web at www.gartner.com.
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