Gateway started in a barn
There are many different strategies that can succeed in a free market. (Oh how I wish we had one!)
You can go with quality, with quantity, with value, with low price, with great service. There isn’t a single magic formula. I don’t fault Dell for making things affordable. They gave the consumer something he wanted.
I like my Macs better than my PCs, but I have both because each fills a niche. Also, the Microsofts and the Dells are part of the tech ecosystem that keeps Apple innovative. If they had no competition, they would just rake in the money with no pressure for new R&D.
I met the Founder of Gateway.
A really nice guy and now travels the USA in a RV.
He didn’t have kind words to say about Dell.