Microsoft is looking to profit from the back-to-school shopping season by introducing a temporary price drop on all versions of the Surface Pro 3.
The discount cuts the price of the cheapest Surface Pro 3 model from $799 to $649. The entry level model has an Intel i3 processor, 64 GB of storage and 4GB of RAM.
The $150 discount is also being implemented on the $999, $1,299 and $1,549 versions of the device. The $999 variant has Intel Core i5 processor, 128 GB of storage and 4GB of RAM. The $1,299 version has an Intel i5 processor, 256GB of storage and 8GB of RAM. Meanwhile, the $1,549 variant has an Intel Core i7 processor, 256GB of storage and 8GB of RAM.
The price cut goes up for the most expensive model in the entire Surface Pro 3 line, which costs $1,949. With the deduction, the model's price tag is reduced to $1,754, which represents a cost saving of $195. The high-end device has an Intel Core i7 processor, 512GB of storage and 8GB of RAM.
The price cuts will last until September 3, so you still have about a month to purchase a Surface Pro 3 if you're so inclined. However, keep in mind that the keyboard cover for the device costs around $130 so you'll probably end up spending at least $780 for your new laptop/tablet hybrid. While the added expense slightly cuts the attractiveness of the deal, the device is still cheaper than competing devices. The entry level 11-inch Macbook Air costs $899.
The offer is only available in Microsoft retail stores in the US and Canada. According to the Surface Pro 3 web page, the discount is "only available to higher education student" and customers would need to provide "eligibility confirmation" before making a purchase. Aside from cheaper Surface Pro 3s, Microsoft also has other incentives for students, such as 10 percent off on all Windows PCs and accessories and lower prices on software.
While the discounts are definitely a great marketing move, it does represent a gap in logic. How can the company expect college students, who are known to survive on ramen noodles and food that comes out of a vending machine, to afford a tablet that costs $1,754?
