<PAGE>
                                                                Exhibit 10(l)

*= THE MATERIAL HAS BEEN OMITTED PURSUANT TO A REQUEST FOR CONFIDENTIAL 
TREATMENT AND SUCH MATERIAL HAS BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND 
EXCHANGE COMMISSION.

                         [GATEWAY 2000, INC. LETTERHEAD]
                                       

May 14, 1998

Michael Chass
Boston Acoustics
300 Jubilee Dr.
Peabody, MA  01960



This Letter of Agreement ("LOA") will confirm the understanding and intent of 
Boston Acoustics and Gateway 2000, Inc., and it's subsidiaries and affiliates 
("Gateway"), to enter into an Agreement for the provision of services and 
products by Boston Acoustics to Gateway worldwide. The agreement will be 
established under terms and conditions set forth in the signed definitive 
written agreement dated March 17, 1997. This LOA supersedes the previous LOA 
in regards to the BA 635 product dated December 22nd, 1997.

If Boston Acoustics makes a change to BA 635, Gateway reserves the right to 
upgrade to that change with no liability to Gateway as long as there is a 
program in effect with Boston Acoustic to cover like volumes and both 
parties agree to new pricing based on the change.

Gateway hereby agrees to commit to purchase, worldwide, from Boston Acoustics 
the stated products at the stated quantity over a 12 month delivery schedule:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Description                       Quantity                       Price
-----------                       --------                       -----

<S>                               <C>                            <C>
BA 635                             for first *                    $  *
BA 635                             for next  *                    $  *
BA 635                             for next  *                    $  *
BA 635                             for next  *                    $  *

</TABLE>

This commitment is conditional upon the following:

1.  Gateway's specification being met
2.  The agreed upon delivery dates being met
3.  Gateway is responsible for * and *
4.  Gateway will pay * in * cost.

Boston Acoustics and Gateway acknowledge, that while this LOA sets forth 
their intentions, this LOA does not contain all matters upon which agreement 
must be reached in order to proceed. All other items and conditions as 
specified in the Purchase Order to be issued by Gateway will remain intact.

All information exchanged to date and hereafter between the parties is 
proprietary to the party submitting the information and shall be held in the 
strictest confidence between the parties.

Please indicate your acceptance of and agreement to this letter of Agreement 
by Signing below.

ACCEPTED AND AGREED:                   ACCEPTED AND AGREED

Boston Acoustics                       Gateway 2000

By: /s/ Andy Kotsatos                  By: /s/ Dave Russell
   -------------------------------        -------------------------------
Name: Andy Kotsatos                    Name: Dave Russell
     -----------------------------          -----------------------------
Title: CEO                             Title: Director
      ----------------------------           ----------------------------
Date: 5/14/98                          Date: 5/14/98
     -----------------------------          -----------------------------