Tyler Cretti, a junior at Oswego State, sets an alarm to wake up for class every morning. But when it goes off, instead of reaching over to turn off his alarm, all he does is swipe the screen of his iPhone.

More consumers are turning to Apple products, especially when it comes to smart phones and laptops. According to a survey conducted by CNBC, more than 55 million households currently have at least one Apple product.

“My first phone was an iPhone 4. This iPhone 5 being the second,” Cretti, a geology major, said. “They look good.”

Apple has always been a company whose products are thought to be worth the steep price tag, according to most students. A study by Paul Benjou, CEO of SEMplest, shows that Apple stock has more than quadrupled since the release of the iPhone alone. The price tag on their latest models are as follows:

−The iPhone 5 from $199-$849

−The iPad from $499-$929

−The newest iPod Touch from $299-$399

−The newest MacBook Pro from $1,499-$2,799

“Trying my friends’ Macs, I just enjoyed it more than my own computer. So when it came time for a new computer, I got a MacBook,” said junior Kevin Farrell. “It’s way easier, and I think it’s a lot smarter.”

Between all the word of mouth and advertisement schemes, it’s hard to find the truth about the value of Apple products.

“I don’t use them. Apple, for the hardware and software you’re getting, you’re paying more than if you went an alternate route,” said Jack Byrne, a senior and employee at the Technology Support Center. “I just feel like people are paying for a pretty design… buying a name brand when there’s a lot more important aspects you could keep in mind.”

Value and aesthetics seem to butt heads, but with the rising popularity of Apple products amongst younger consumers, and competition for Apple, such as the new, touch-screen Blackberry on the horizon, one can only guess what’s in store.