Microsoft Offers Deep Discount On Surface 3 Tablet Hybrids For Education
When Satya Nadella displaced Steve Ballmer as the CEO of Microsoft, I was a bit unsure of what the future would bring. The outlook seemed good, but there was much work to be done in reversing some trends that obviously needed reversing. At this point though, I feel far more confident in the future of the company than I have in quite a while. It's truly unfortunate that Microsoft has to cull a substantial part of its workforce, but that slimming-down, along with the company's renewed vigor and focus, could pay off handsomely for the company.
Over the past couple of months, we've seen the company release some truly interesting products, and also announcing some important news. We've pretty well established that Window RT will be no more when Windows 9 ships, and with the Surface Pro 3 having been well-received so far, it's no surprise. With this particular product, Microsoft has renewed the faith of many - I personally consider it to be an outstanding piece of hardware.
No one understands that better than Microsoft though, and it's keen to make sure the rest of the world knows it, too. On Sunday, we learned of a $400 million partnership between the NFL and Microsoft that gets 25 Sufarce Pro 3 units on the field per team. During Sunday night's Hall of Fame match-up between the New York Giants and Buffalo Bills, the commentators took many opportunities to talk about it. It's a major deal to have that kind of technology on the field, and the exposure it's going to bring Microsoft is immense.
Given the momentum Surface has at the moment, it's no surprise that Microsoft wants to keep it going. Today, we learn of discounts that the company's offering students and educators: At least $150 off any model in the Surface Pro 3 range. Those wanting to get in on the deal need to act fast, though, as Microsoft's promotion will expire on September 3.
With the student discount, the least-expensive Surface Pro 3 model comes in at $699 (from $849); that model includes 64GB of SSD storage along with an Intel Core i3 processor. Those wanting a bit more oomph can upgrade to the $1,149 model which doubles the storage and uses an Intel Core i5 model. The top-of-the-ladder model, equipped with 512GB of SSD storage and an Intel Core i7 processor retails for $1,799, which is a $200 discount.
This to me is another great move by the company, because with Surface getting some major airtime during NFL pre-season match-ups this month, many are going to suddenly have Surface on the mind, and for students, that $150 discount could look mighty tasty.
