Anywhere on campus, it’s typical to see multiple white cords plugged into outlets, with bright, white apples from devices glowing nearby. Even though thousands of students with Apple hardware, be it a Macbook, an iPhone or iPad, are seen daily all over campus, University of Alabama students are proving the Mac-obsessed college kid stereotype wrong. 

“I’ve always been a bigger fan of Windows than Mac,” said Michael Kuhlman, a sophomore majoring in chemical engineering. 

Kuhlman said he uses his Toshiba laptop primarily to do classwork and saw no reason to purchase a Mac computer, having all the programs he needed for class on Windows. 

Some students are found with particular allegiances to a technology or computer brand, but more students are starting to cross their technology brands together. Although he has a Windows laptop, Kuhlman said he is a fan of his iPhone, which became more of a peer-pressure purchase.

“Everyone else had one, so it’s just easier that way,” he said.

Katie Schafer, a junior majoring in public relations and political science, is a proud Apple fan. As a member of the College Democrats, Schafer said she often makes graphics or even types essays for her classes on her Macbook. 

Like many other college students, Schafer said her Macbook was a graduation present that her parents bought on sale. Though she had previously been a Windows user, she went with the Mac because others told her the brand was better.

“I love my Mac, but if I had to replace it, I’d probably go for a Windows just because they’re inexpensive,” Schafer said.

Apple is known for their one-year limited warranty plan, with AppleCare giving users additional time on their warranty for a yearly fee. Windows computers are similar, with manufacturers setting their own warranty and repair guarantees. Laptops pre-installed with Windows can vary in terms of usability, with some lasting three to four years under normal circumstances. While Apple is often criticized for their yearly phone releases that can require users to upgrade, their laptop and home computer lines both have a general usage expectancy of five years.

The Macbook has also gained popularity from its user-friendly programs and easy-to-understand applications. Because of the ease, people are using Macbooks for more professional needs, such as Trevor Pruitt, one of the marketing support assistants for the College of Music. He designs the layout for performances at the Moody Music Concert Hall. 

Pruitt said he’s more partial to his Windows PC at home, but at work, he’s a Mac user. 

“If they were more affordable, I’d switch to a Mac in a heartbeat, but just because I still find a lot of value in the PC, it’s a more affordable option for me,” Pruitt said. “I just kind of stick with that.”

iPhones appeal in the same way.

The Android phone interface failed to appeal to Pruitt, and he found that he was a fan of the interface for Apple products, calling it “very easy to use and very intuitive.”

Matthew Cox, a senior majoring in management information systems, is a huge Windows fan, due in part to his current work for Microsoft.

Cox said he uses his Windows PC both for work and to play video games, going so far as to build his computer to fit his own needs, which PC is capable of. Though Macs can do the task at hand, be it web development or gaming, Cox said he found the power behind it to be lacking.

“I never even considered a Mac going into the MIS major,” Cox said. “You can’t do as much when it comes to tech, when it comes to coding. There are options out there available and different ways to code with Mac, but that didn’t interest me very much.” 

Cox said Microsoft products give him more freedom, but also more opportunities to change things drastically, even if they lead to failure.

Cox said he is an Android user, primarily due to the Google Play app store. Much like his computer, he said he was impressed with the freedom it gave him, allowing him to install complex applications and even access his home computer through his cell phone. Cox said he previously owned an iPhone and called it a phone perfect for texting and calling, but not much else.

“I don’t want simple options; I want the ability to modify things to suit my needs,” Cox said.