Microsoft Back-to-School Offer

[SmogHog]

Microsoft Announces New Back-to-School Offer for Students

REDMOND, Wash. — May 19, 2011 — Microsoft Corp. today announced a new offer for students who purchase a new Windows 7-based PC. Starting May 22, students buying a new Windows 7-based PC priced at $699 (U.S.) or more will also get a free Xbox 360 4GB console. Students will be able to choose from the wide range of stylish, powerful and innovative Windows 7-based PCs to find the one that’s right for them based on the features, color, size and price they want. The offer is available at participating retailers for current students in the U.S. while supplies last. Similar student-focused offers will be coming soon in Canada and France.
“A hot new Windows 7-based PC with a free Xbox 360 is the ultimate productivity, social and entertainment package for students,” said Kathleen Hall, general manager of Windows Marketing at Microsoft. “In one shot, with this great offer, Microsoft is giving students everything they need for a successful new school year.”
Today’s Windows 7-based PCs come in a wide variety of styles, sizes and colors, and many new PCs boast built-in Blu-ray drives, 3G connections and leading-edge technologies, such as 3-D displays and multitouch-capable screens. With more than 1 million devices and apps that work with a Windows 7-based PC, students’ smartphones, printers, digital music players and cameras will work with their PCs with ease right out of the box. With the addition of Microsoft Office 2010 for Home and Student with OneNote, students can create presentations for class, take and organize digital notes, manage group projects and assignments, and easily stay on top of class schedules. And with an Xbox 360, students can not only have fun gaming but also can enjoy a range of entertainment options, including streaming videos, sports, music and more.
To take advantage of this offer, students or parents must provide valid student identification as defined by the participating retailer. More information about this offer can be found at http://www.windows.com/freexbox (http://www.windows.com/freexbox).
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
Note to editors: For more information, news and perspectives from Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft News Center at http://www.microsoft.com/news (http://www.microsoft.com/news). Web links and titles were correct at time of publication, but may have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft’s Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts listed at http://www.microsoft.com/news/contactpr.mspx (http://www.microsoft.com/news/contactpr.mspx).

[Jeremy@XoticPC]

I saw this yesterday. at first I was pretty impressed by the deal, but then I starting thinking...Isn't that the model that has trouble playing newer games? It's an interesting announcement 2 weeks before E3. Is that a new console announcement I smell? We know that Nintendo is going to make one- is Microsoft too? It's too bad you have to pay so much to get a good laptop at any of those places.

[Bolas]

So... if I buy a new windows 7 laptop... I get a free xbox 360? All I have to do is take a night course or something?

Is there anyone besides me that sees the irony in this -- buy the laptop to succeed at school, get the XBox to fail?!? Why study when you can game on the free Xbox!!

[Keeper]

So... if I buy a new windows 7 laptop... I get a free xbox 360? All I have to do is take a night course or something?

Is there anyone besides me that sees the irony in this -- buy the laptop to succeed at school, get the XBox to fail?!? Why study when you can game on the free Xbox!!

That's a bit ridiculous if it wasn't a joke, especially on the night course. I mean you can snag an xbox for under $200 in most cases and a night course is much more than that. Being a student and gamer is easily done, I think it is pretty rad of MS to toss some cheap boxes at the kids for kicks.

[Maverick494]

That's a bit ridiculous if it wasn't a joke, especially on the night course. I mean you can snag an xbox for under $200 in most cases and a night course is much more than that. Being a student and gamer is easily done, I think it is pretty rad of MS to toss some cheap boxes at the kids for kicks.

OMG hahahaha you said RAD! you rock!

[Bolas]

That's a bit ridiculous if it wasn't a joke, especially on the night course. I mean you can snag an xbox for under $200 in most cases and a night course is much more than that. Being a student and gamer is easily done, I think it is pretty rad of MS to toss some cheap boxes at the kids for kicks.

Work will pay the full cost of any classes as long as they are work related. I'm buying a laptop anyways... So hey, free Xbox.

[Jeremy@XoticPC]

Nah, buy it here- we are awesome! use the money you save on the computer to buy an xbox on your own:)

I admit that I am biased though

[SmogHog]

OMG hahahaha you said RAD! you rock!

I'm old school;had to look it up in the Urban Dictionary.

#1 RAD
An abbreviation of 'radical'--a term made popular by the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Still primarily used by people on the West Coast who find words like 'cool', 'awesome', and 'tight' to be tired and overused; 'rad' is generally considered to be a much higher praise than the aforementioned superlatives. Also used as a general expression of awe.
"Those are some rad shoes."
"Oh, RAD."

#2 RAD
really cooll (http://www.xoticpcforums.com/define.php?term=cool), but in a more subtle way. as opposed to extreme or awesome . One of the highest compliments you can give someone. being rad is like being cool without having to work for it. it's like a natural coolness.

she seems quiet at frist, but she's actually pretty rad when you get to know her.

these pro skaters have it all wrong, it should be less extreme and more rad, like it was back in the day.

#3 RAD
the word used to describe something when u must describe it as positively as possible. Rad is the strongest alternative, and stronger than the word, 'cool'
Sex and Pizza are rad

[Bolas]

Nah, buy it here- we are awesome! use the money you save on the computer to buy an xbox on your own:)

I admit that I am biased though

Umm.... doesn't it work if you buy a Win 7 laptop from xoticpc?

[Keeper]

OMG hahahaha you said RAD! you rock!

Haha, that's what I get for being old I guess.

[SmogHog]

Umm.... doesn't it work if you buy a Win 7 laptop from xoticpc?

The offer states;

"Get a free Xbox 360 4GB console with the purchase of a Windows 7 PC $699 or more, at participating retailers in the US from 5/23-9/3 or while supplies last. Verification of student status required. See participating retailers for full details".

The only problem is that I can't find a list of "participating retailers".

Has anyone found a list of dealers besides the mentioned dell.com and Microsoft Store?

http://windowsteamblog.com/windows/b/windowsexperience/archive/2011/05/12/students-we-ve-got-you-covered.aspx

[Bolas]

DOH! Participating retailers.... bleah... so... will xoticpc participate? *grin*

[Unknown_zzz]

I saw the Xboxes at bestbuy the other day.
So why is one retailer such as best buy eligible for this give away and Xotic has yet to offer it? I see this as biased. Xotic sells so many machines with Windows on them... Maybe you guys can talk to Microsoft and get free upgrades for all window's versions instead of those Xboxes as a compensation.
I'm sure you can make this work to your advantage if you just ask the right high enough people (There is a bargain everywhere if you take the time to look. Except at Xotic, they already have the lowest prices :DDD ).

[Skarn]

DOH! Participating retailers.... bleah... so... will xoticpc participate? *grin*

I saw the Xboxes at bestbuy the other day.
So why is one retailer such as best buy eligible for this give away and Xotic has yet to offer it? I see this as biased. Xotic sells so many machines with Windows on them... Maybe you guys can talk to Microsoft and get free upgrades for all window's versions instead of those Xboxes as a compensation.
I'm sure you can make this work to your advantage if you just ask the right high enough people (There is a bargain everywhere if you take the time to look. Except at Xotic, they already have the lowest prices :DDD ).

Xotic doesn't have the sales volume to qualify for the offer.

Consider: Participating vendors are Dell, HP, Best Buy, and IIRC Toshiba and/or Sony. MAJOR vendors. Best Buy is the only brick-and-mortar retailer I recall seeing on the list.

There are no boutique vendors on that list, only mainstream system builders and the only remaining wide-spread, big-box electronics store.

As for Xotic's prices, the only thing I've seen that beets them is Best Buy's prices on the G73. However, at Best Buy you're giving up the backpack, the mouse, and a significant measure of the ASUS warranty. Buy an extended warranty from Best Buy and you're back up to a similar price, trading the bling for local warranty fulfillment (if you trust the Geek Squad).

As has been said before . . . if you get a mid-range or high-end laptop from Xotic you're more than likely to be able to buy that Xbox 360 outright with what you saved, unless you spent your budgetary difference on a beefier system from Xotic. :D

[Bolas]

As for Xotic's prices, the only thing I've seen that beets them is Best Buy's prices on the G73. However, at Best Buy you're giving up the backpack, the mouse, and a significant measure of the ASUS warranty. Buy an extended warranty from Best Buy and you're back up to a similar price, trading the bling for local warranty fulfillment (if you trust the Geek Squad).

As has been said before . . . if you get a mid-range or high-end laptop from Xotic you're more than likely to be able to buy that Xbox 360 outright with what you saved, unless you spent your budgetary difference on a beefier system from Xotic. :D

Best Buy's prices don't beat Xotic's prices if you are comparing apple to apples. You can get a stripped down G73 from Best Buy or Newegg, but if you add in the stuff that's missing (or subtract the stuff you actually want from the one on xoticpc) then the xoticpc price is better.

I'll go with beefier computer and no xbox, thank you very much. Buy a beefier computer and you don't need an xbox because the computer far outperforms the xbox.

[scar]

Agreed, and you have tax with Best Buy, which is at least $100.

[Jeremy@XoticPC]

Plus, you get great service from us

[Unknown_zzz]

Agreed. As Brett will know after I send a few of the best price matches in that Xotic is still the best deal by at least $30-$50 over other online places and +$100 on retailers including Best-buy and Tiger-direct (Tiger-Direct had a better price and computer than Best-buy).

Xotic still beats all and my computer is shipped already :)))