Please direct your media and public relations inquiries to: mediarelations@cdw.com 800-800-4CDW CDW Computer Centers Wins Compaq'sTop Sales Award VERNON HILLS, IL–July 13, 1998—CDW Computer Centers, Inc. (NASDAQ: CDWC), a Fortune 1000 company, today announced it received the Top 10 Channel Award from Compaq Computer Corporation for first quarter 1998 performance in a special presentation held recently at the company's Vernon Hills, Illinois headquarters. One of the country's largest and fastest growing direct marketers of brand-name microcomputer products, CDW is the first direct marketer to ever place in Compaq's Top 10. Recipients of the award are determined on the basis of quarterly sales. Compaq's Bob Gregerson, director of retail channels for North America, presented the award to CDW President Greg Zeman. "As one of our most valued and fastest growing channel partners, we are honored to recognize CDW for redefining and setting new standards in the direct marketing channel," said Gregerson. "This is another example of CDW's philosophies of success at work—it's only good if it's win/win— this is most certainly the case with CDW and Compaq." CDW sells more Compaq products in the United States than any other direct marketer and has also been recognized as one of the top ten resellers of Compaq servers worldwide About CDW From its founding in 1984 as a one man, home-based business with CEO Michael Krasny at the helm, today CDW boasts more than 1,300 coworkers whose efforts resulted in 1997 net sales that topped the $1.2 billion mark. The No. 1 authorized direct source for Compaq, IBM, Microsoft and Toshiba, CDW offers more than 30,000 brand name microcomputer products to business, government, educational, institutional and home office users in the United States. CDW prides itself on unparalleled technical support and customer service, with more than 50 factory-trained and certified technicians. In terms of personalized service and solutions, CDW sets the standard, completing more than 3,000 custom configurations each week, free of charge. With more than 40,000 unique visitors and more than 400,000 hits daily on its award-winning web site-www.cdw.com -CDW brings online commerce to new heights with automated pricing and availability alerts, online shopping lists, sophisticated search capabilities, and innovative promotions and product giveaways. More than 27,000 computer products - with detailed specifications for more than 7,000 - are available to search and order online, making the company's web site an integral component of the company's business. For more information About CDW, please call 800-671-4239 Additional information can be found by visiting CDW.com.