Gateway copies Apple yet again; cribs retail model

The list continues. Add “retail store model” to Gateway’s attempts to emulate Apple innovations. Previously, we had the Gateway Asstro (misspelling intentional) which was a blatant copy of the original iMac and the recent Gateway Profile trying to steal the thunder of the new iMac G4, among others. Now we have the latest attempt: “following the lead of Apple Computer–which sells its computers and other devices in retail stores–Gateway plans to offer software, printers and digital cameras, camcorders and music players through its 272 Country stores. Although the Poway, Calif.-based company already sells a limited-number of PCs from its retail stores, those sites had been more showcases for products than places to buy them,” reports ZDNet news’ Joe Wilcox here.