The growing popularity of Apple computers among college students across the nation is apparently a trend not lost on Penn State students.

The Penn State Computer Store saw a large jump in its sales of Macintosh computers this past summer compared to the 2005 summer, said Robin Anderson, communications director of information and technology services.

This parallels a recent study done by the Student Monitor, a research organization that studies college students' consumer trends. According to the study, 13 percent of college students planning to buy notebook computers have decided to buy a Macintosh, putting it in second place among preferred brands, behind Dell. Eric Weil, managing partner of Student Monitor, said he thought the numbers showed a noteworthy change.

"It's probably up two or three [percentage] points in just a year," he said. "That's a significant increase."

Weil said he thought the popularity of the iPod contributed to the study's results

"This [past] spring, more students said iPods are 'in' on campus than beer," he said. "The last time that happened, it was '97, and it was the Internet."

The Student Monitor measured trends in the purchase of notebook computers because they seem to have surpassed desktops in terms of popularity, Weil said.

Elise Corbin (senior-information sciences and technology) said she thought the study's concentration on notebook computers made sense.

"Laptops are becoming one of the best things to buy when you go to school," she said.

Weil said advertising had sway over students' preferences in notebook computers. He cited Apple's recent advertising campaign that used a young man named Mac and an older man named PC, and demonstrated the superiority of Mac to PC.

"They're very clever," Weil said. "There's a perception in terms of brand image."

Timothy Martin, president of the Penn State Mac User Group, said he thought Macintosh's increased popularity has come from a broader exposure to the public.

"I think people are starting to realize that some of the myths aren't true ... [such as] Macs are expensive or hard to use," he said.

In the Student Monitor study, the most popular choice of notebook was Dell computers, which 41 percent of students said they preferred.

Frank Macinsky (sophomore-marketing) said he, like many of his fellow students, owned a Dell because of his familiarity with it.

"It was what my mom was willing to pay for," he said. "A lot of people buy PCs for the name -- that was the computer I grew up with."

However, Macinsky said popular culture has caused him to want a Macintosh.

"They have really good advertising," he said. "It's something new."

David Cairns (senior-computer science) said he has observed the switch to Macintosh among other students.

"The circles I hang out with -- the grad students -- are all using Macs now. It may be trickling down to undergrads," he said. "I go to Starbucks frequently, and there's at least the [same] number of Macs as PCs."