AppleInsider Staff
Microsoft announced on Thursday that it has initiated a limited time offer which allows iPad owners to trade in their old tablets for at least a $200 gift card, which can be applied to a Surface RT, Surface Pro, or any other product at the company's retail stores.
The offer, which runs through Oct. 27, appears to be aimed at luring iPad users away from the Apple ecosystem and pushing them toward Microsoft's floundering Surface devices.
According to Microsoft's website, "gently used" iPad 2 tablets, as well as third- and fourth-generation iPads, can be swapped for a minimum $200 Microsoft Store gift card at the company's retail outlets. The ad recommend those interested in upgrading their tablet to look at the Surface RT or Surface Pro.
Microsoft's new initiative comes after the Redmond tech giant permanently slashed the price of its Surface Pro by $100, bringing the 32GB version down to $799 and the 64GB model to $899. That program came on the heels of a push in education that promised free Surface RT units to schools using the Bing search engine.
Microsoft has had a rough time with its foray into the tablet hardware sector. Earlier this year, the company had to take a $900 million write down for unsold Surface inventory and advertisement costs associated with Windows 8.
A next-generation version of the Surface is already in the works, though final specifications and pricing have yet to be announced. Microsoft will be revealing more details regarding the future device at an event later this month.
Christine McKee
Stephen Silver
Charles Martin
Amber Neely
69 Comments
MSFT is probably collecting the iPads so they can give them out to MSFT employees. That way they will have a tablet that they can actually (and want to actually) use.
Resold for ~$300, Microsoft just might have a new, lucrative business on their hands!
Except for the one little hitch where no one in their right mind wants a Microsoft Store gift card.
...and in unrelated news, Apple is offering $2.99 for trade-ins of Microsoft Surface RT or Surface Pro.
Gently used? iPad 2?
You mean they won't take my original iPad that - after dropping over a dozen times - finally cracked?
I was so looking forward to that store credit to pick up Office.
Why would I downgrade?