Microsoft woos Mac owners with $300 Windows 10 'Trade Up' promotion
Microsoft on Thursday debuted a limited-time, in-store incentive program offering customers in the market for a new (non-Surface) computer running Windows 10 up to $200 when they turn over an old PC, or up to $300 for a used MacBook or iMac.
According to Microsoft's terms, buyers are eligible to receive Easy Trade Up rewards on new Windows 10 PC purchases costing $599 or more. Qualifying trade-ins include old Windows all-in-ones, laptops or two-in-ones, as well as MacBooks and iMacs, that are at most six years old.
According to VentureBeat, Microsoft is dishing out an extra $100 for Apple hardware to offset comparatively high resale values, though the Redmond, Wash., tech giant likely has ulterior motives. The company has for years relied on incentives to swell hardware launch numbers and, perhaps more importantly, wrest Mac owners away from Apple's sticky ecosystem.
For example, Microsoft Stores last year were willing to pay up to $650 in store credit for select MacBook Air models with the purchase of a Surface Pro 3, while a 2013 iPad trade-in deal offered a $200 gift card with the sale of a Surface Pro or Surface RT.
The Windows 10 promotion does not apply to the latest Surface Pro 4 or all-new Surface Book laptop, at least for the moment. Initial interest is apparently high enough to let sales continue without a stimulus plan, as Microsoft said yesterday that it sold out of Surface Book launch supply one week after preorders went live.
The latest Windows 10 incentive runs until Oct. 20 and is available at Microsoft Stores in Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, Taiwan, the UK and the U.S. Full country-by-country details, including a rundown of the claims process, are posted on Microsoft's website.
According to Microsoft's terms, buyers are eligible to receive Easy Trade Up rewards on new Windows 10 PC purchases costing $599 or more. Qualifying trade-ins include old Windows all-in-ones, laptops or two-in-ones, as well as MacBooks and iMacs, that are at most six years old.
According to VentureBeat, Microsoft is dishing out an extra $100 for Apple hardware to offset comparatively high resale values, though the Redmond, Wash., tech giant likely has ulterior motives. The company has for years relied on incentives to swell hardware launch numbers and, perhaps more importantly, wrest Mac owners away from Apple's sticky ecosystem.
For example, Microsoft Stores last year were willing to pay up to $650 in store credit for select MacBook Air models with the purchase of a Surface Pro 3, while a 2013 iPad trade-in deal offered a $200 gift card with the sale of a Surface Pro or Surface RT.
The Windows 10 promotion does not apply to the latest Surface Pro 4 or all-new Surface Book laptop, at least for the moment. Initial interest is apparently high enough to let sales continue without a stimulus plan, as Microsoft said yesterday that it sold out of Surface Book launch supply one week after preorders went live.
The latest Windows 10 incentive runs until Oct. 20 and is available at Microsoft Stores in Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, Taiwan, the UK and the U.S. Full country-by-country details, including a rundown of the claims process, are posted on Microsoft's website.
Comments
there has never been a better time to downgrade.
MICROSNOT can have my Mac when they pry it from my cold, dead hands. First they wanted iPods for Zunes, then iPads for Surface and now THIS? That company has absolutely NO moral compass and no business sense. If they didn't have PC users over a barrel, they'd go broke. And truth be told, PC owners aren't really over a barrel. They could use a flavor of Linux and wave goodbye to MS.
My dad worked for IBM for 20 years and when his Win98 PC kept getting infections, I was able to convince him to try Linux because IBM was using Linux, so it was OK. From there, it was a short hop to get him on a Mac, and he's never been happier. He has a Mac mini, iPad mini, and iPhone 5s.
Nope. Not getting my Mac. EVER.
I guess me and Microsoft agree on one thing. Macs worth 50% more than PCs.
at least. say goodbye to your sturdy aluminium, here is a plastic junker that will no doubt creak and warp in the months to come.
Clever, Microsoft. Anyone else has to pay at least $1000 to get a Mac, you want to have it for just $300!
It seems like Windows 10 came pretty quick. What ever happened to Windows 9? I guess that they just skipped completely over that number. Maybe they were trying to run away from 8 and simply moving to 9 wasn't far enough removed from the nightmare that was 8.
Not that I really pay much attention to Windows releases since I never use Windows, but I think that Windows 8 must have been a huge failure and a big misstep, and that's why MS decided to make the move to Windows 10.
I still think that this whole convergence of Touch with vintage desktop OSes is a terrible idea, and I never wish to see Apple head in that direction. And no, I don't ever want to see Apple make any ridiculous 2 in 1 product that's worse than the 2 product categories that it's attempting to replace. Talk about a downgrade.
Got it!!
Not. At. Gunpoint.
Trade up for adverts in our start menu
Best time to 'downgrade' right now!
Clever, Microsoft. Anyone else has to pay at least $1000 to get a Mac, you want to have it for just $300!
Things are going bad at Microsoft. They can't afford new Macs for their developers so have to get them second hands ones on the cheap.
https://t.co/qgKlmT1Hqa
Yep. http://www.theverge.com/2015/10/14/9529635/lg-laptop-price-specs-lg-gram-review
But you don't need a new computer to run Windows, you can just install it on your Mac.
If they are serious about poaching Mac users then just offer a free copy of Win 10 to anyone who owns a Mac. Make it a special ISO download that only installs on Macs.
Yeah I'll get right on that.
Singing to the choir here, but there's no way I'm going to sell my 2009 Macbook Pro for $300. I replaced it with a Retina Macbook Pro last year (so sweet!), but I'd rather use it as a serving tray than give it up for 3 Benjamins!
How about you sell me a new "Surface" for $100? (just in case I need a second serving tray!)
I can see deal if Microsoft gives $200 for old laptop and let you buy same new laptop listed on their website from manufacturer or retail shop like BestBuy. OR make the total cost of purchase cheaper by reducing original price listed on their web site lower.
Wise people say, "Read fine print and do your homework". AND Windows laptop's are crappy built which breaks easily in a year. There is no real life use comparison of excellent built Macbook to crappy built windows laptops.
When you try Mac, you never go back. Hint: the secret is the interface.
Oh and MS, I recently sold my old 2008 iMac for more than the $300 you're offering me. Nice try.
P.S. Any suggestions for 24-27 inch 4K monitor?