Macs top Lenovos in CCI laptop sales for fall semester at UNC

CORRECTION: Due to a source error, an earlier version of this story said IBM owns Lenovo. Lenovo acquired IBM’s personal computer business in 2005, and the two entities are separate. The Daily Tar Heel apologizes for the error.

The Apple logo has joined the Old Well as one of the most prevalent brands on UNC’s campus — a trend demonstrated most recently by the University’s laptop sales.

Carolina Computing Initiative sales for Apple laptops surged to 60 percent for the fall semester, with Lenovo at 40 percent, up from last year’s 50 percent tie in sales.

But John Gorsuch, director of UNC Student Stores, said there is no reliable trend in computer sales, stressing UNC offers the two best options in the market.

Lenovo and Apple have a long history of being committed to higher education, Gorsuch said.

Lenovo has been offered by the CCI program, which sells laptops to incoming freshmen and graduate students, for four years, while Apple has only been available for two years.

Students can use the CCI laptop financial aid grant to purchase either product. Although they have to pay extra beyond the value of the grant for a MacBook Pro, 57 percent of students with a CCI laptop grant opted to pay the extra money for a Mac instead of a Lenovo, said David Eckert, CCI program manager.

But for some students, price is still a factor in determining the model they choose.

“I’ve always just been against Macs,” said junior Timothy Morrison. “They’re overpriced. Windows is so much better for converting movies, gaming and running certain software.

“It’s compatibility. Everyone in my family has a PC,” he said.
Senior Alex Mario said Apple offers the best product, which is what convinced her to purchase one.

“It’s sleek, it doesn’t get viruses, the battery is great, and Apple has the best customer service,” Mario said.

“When you buy a Mac, you’re not just buying a computer, you’re buying a line. It’s an investment,” she said.

Senior Brad Booker said Apple products are not only more visually appealing, they also have less technical issues.

“My brother came to UNC before me and bought a Lenovo and had so many problems,” Booker said. “He was constantly getting viruses and taking his Lenovo to be repaired. I never have problems with my Mac.”

But Eckert said both models are repaired at about the same rate.
“ThinkPads and the MacBook Pros are two of the better built computers on the market, so the repair rate is fairly low compared to the market,” he said.

Gorsuch said, though Mac sales outdid Lenovo this year, he sees it as a strong showing of Lenovo against a very well-marketed Mac product.

“I really don’t know why students choose one over the other,” Eckert said.

“It’s really a personal preference.”

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