Please direct your media and public relations inquiries to: mediarelations@cdw.com 800-800-4CDW CDW Signs Deal, Becoming Preferred Hardware Provider on Departments of Excite's Computers & Internet Channel VERNON HILLS, IL–August 3, 1998—In a continuing effort to provide complete computer solutions to businesses, CDW Computer Centers, Inc. (Nasdaq: CDWC), one of the country's largest and fastest growing direct marketers of brand name computer products, today announced an alliance with Excite, Inc. (NASDAQ:XCIT). The deal names CDW the dominant and preferred computer hardware reseller on the Hardware, Internet and Networking Departments of the Computers and Internet Channel on www.excite.com, one of the Internet's largest online services. Through this agreement, Excite's users, numbering more than 20 million a month, will have direct access to CDW's award-winning Web site, www.cdw.com. Voted as one of Catalog Age's Top Ten E-commerce merchants, www.cdw.com is one of the Internet's premier sites for direct computer solutions, offering more than 27,000 computer products to search and order online, including detailed specifications for more than 7,000. Users will have direct access to www.cdw.com through various Excite channels including Small Business, Computers and Internet, Money and Investing, and Intuit's quicken.com. Additionally, CDW and www.cdw.com will be prominently featured throughout excite.com through targeted banner advertising. "Through this exciting partnership, we intend to significantly increase our current Web site traffic, strengthening cdw.com's position as the leading online source for computers and computer-related products," said Jim Shanks, vice president of information technology for CDW. "By partnering with an established, flagship online entity like Excite, we are combining what we both do best-meeting the needs of small to medium sized businesses-to bring the computer online buying experience to new heights." "CDW has demonstrated a commitment and dedication to offering personalized service and attention to its customers," said Kenneth Wachtel, senior vice president of advertising and sales for Excite, Inc. "By naming CDW as the preferred computer hardware reseller on several departments of Excite's Computers and Internet Channel, we are giving users direct access to one of the best destinations on the Web from which to order computer equipment." The Excite partnership is one component of CDW's multifaceted online marketing strategy, positioning the company as the online supplier of choice for small to medium-sized businesses. Other innovative initiatives include CDW@work, a customized corporate extranet program where CDW will build personalized Web sites that will provide customized product and pricing information, purchase history, and a convenient gateway to online ordering. With more than 47,000 unique users and 400,000 hits per day, www.cdw.com accounts for a significant proportion of CDW's business, generating identifiable net sales in excess of $25 million for the quarter ended June 30, 1998. In addition to providing personalized service and solutions for existing customers, cdw.com has proven to be an excellent source for new customers. About CDW From its founding in 1984 as a one man, home-based business, CDW, a Fortune 1000 company, today boasts more than 1,400 coworkers whose efforts resulted in net sales that topped $1.4 billion for the trailing twelve months ended June 30, 1998. The No. 1 authorized 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. With lifetime technical support and other industry leading service capabilities, CDW prides itself on providing unparalleled support, solutions and customer service. With more than 50 factory-trained and certified technicians on staff, CDW provides customized solutions, completing more than 3,000 custom configurations each week, free of charge. For more information About CDW, please call 800-671-4239. Additional information can be found by visiting CDW.com.