Macs are becoming more popular at Princeton University, according to a new report. The number of students who have chosen Macs at the prominent Ivy league institution has tripled in the past three years. The Daily Princetonian reports that 45 percent of computers purchased this year were Macs, more than in any previous year. In 2003, the report notes, just 15 percent of them chose Macs: the number has been steadily rising as nearly 25 percent purchased Macs in 2004 and almost 40 percent in 2005. The article cites security issues, Apple's growing retail presence, and the "iPod halo effect" as possible reasons for Apple's growing influence on campus. Faculty have also been buying more Macs. "'A relatively high percentage of faculty use Macs,' said Steven Sather of OIT. 'And that percentage has also increased over the past couple years.' Many faculty members in the Engineering School have adopted Macs despite the fact that some engineering software programs only run on Windows."