Tech is cool on campus this year, and a whole bunch of manufacturers know it. They're doing a good job. As the prices of techie gewgaws continue to fall, students offer an untapped audience for market growth. Everyone wants to catch 'em while they're young. A lot of trends get started on campuses.
People start to cement brand loyalty.
That's what's driving a lot of companies. A veteran of the school and college market, Apple is at the head of the pack. The iBook may prove to be an even bigger hit for Apple than the iMac. Following Apple's lead, earlier this month 3Com launched a new Palm handheld with an iMac-like clear case, now available in a handful of campus bookstores. If they sell well, the company will expand the line.