Microsoft is bringing back its student deal that offers a free Xbox 360 4 GB console with the purchase of a Windows 7 PC.
Students looking for a new laptop might want to wait until Microsoft re-introduces its popular Xbox 360 offer starting this Sunday, May 20. The campaign provides a free 4 GB Xbox 360 console to students who purchase a qualifying Windows 7-based PC. The offer will be available while supplies last at Best Buy, Fry’s Electronics, Dell.com, HPDirect.com, Microsoft Stores and NewEgg.com.
"Together, a Windows 7-based PC and an Xbox 360 console provide students the functionality they need for school while also helping them stay connected to friends and family far away," Microsoft said on Friday. "To take advantage of this offer, students or their parents must provide valid student identification as defined by the participating retailer. Participating retailers may change over the course of the promotion."
Microsoft didn't say which Windows 7-based PCs would qualify for the promotion, but did happen to mention the "thin and light" Dell XPS 13, HP ENVY15 and Samsung Series 5 ULTRA as examples. Unlike last year, Microsoft faces stagnant sales this summer/fall until Windows 8 rears its head later this year. Many students may choose to wait for a Windows 8 machine, thus seemingly pushing Microsoft to resurrect its PC/Xbox combo deal before then.
Additionally, students who purchase a Windows 7 PC starting next month may be able to upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for just $15. As pointed out on Tuesday, Microsoft hasn't officially announced the $15 upgrade deal, and the discount doesn't apply unless the machine is purchased after June 2. Even Microsoft says the former Xbox deal will only be good while supplies last, so whether it will still be available by June 2 or not is up in the air at this point. It'll all depend on consumer response. It would certainly be an awesome deal to purchase the PC/Xbox bundle and get the Windows 8 Pro upgrade.
Microsoft's PC/Xbox bundle campaign actually starts today in Canada, available at Best Buy, Dell.ca, Future Shop, Staples and The Source. Customers in both the U.S. and Canada can check with participating retailers for more information about this offer. As previously stated, participating retailers may change over the course of the promotion.
I hope the XBOX 720 has a massive hard drive if MS wants to turn it into a HD DVR as well. I'm thinking at least 3-4 TB to start. Then you have to record more advanced game data as well.
Meaning that you have to buy it, almost ruining the point of the free Xbox, to not have to buy it and it's peripherals.
Now that I can agree with.
I know the Canadian dollar is stronger than the US dollar right now, but not THAT stronger.
Yeah, because $79 bucks (or less, if you buy one used) for an HDD just completely sours the prospect of a free $199 console. :rolls eyes:
What the hell is with all this negativity? They are giving away a damn Xbox for free with purchase of a laptop many students are going to be buying anyway. What does Apple do these days, give a hundred dollar gift card for iTunes? Whoopty shit.
When I bought my 2009 13" MBP a few years ago, they gave me a free iPod touch. It was only the 8gb model, and I had no need of it since I already had an iPhone and a Nano, but that didn't stop me from selling it on eBay for 175 bucks. It was money I was happy to have, frankly, as I looked at is as a 175 rebate on the purchase of my MacBook. If were following the mentality of most of you on here, I'd be bitching that it was just the 8gb model, and didn't come loaded with music and a free case packed in. Bunch of whiny babies.
It will force sales of the xbox hdd as people will want to upgrade. Now if the xbox could be a home server to backup the laptop should it fail then that would be interesting.
I bet, if they announced a free "Halo 4 for the PC" coupon code, i bet they'd sell a lot more PCs
sadly won't happen...at least until Halo 5, in case the 720 gets Win 8 and has an AMD APU.
If a student needs to buy a new pc, igetting a free xbox with it is quite a nice bonus. stop being stuck up people, you make the pc gamer community look like whiny brats.
Just because games are being made for it, you don't consider it as obsolete as it obviously is? Wrong. That just means that some people are still using obsolete technology. It's no less obsolete just because it's still in use.
Do they build their own laptops?
Main point its its free, which is better than not getting anything, if you don't want it toss it to EB for 60$ and buy something there.
Getting something is better than getting nothing, especially if that something is easily resell-able with absolutely no effort.