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Microsoft offers $650 to trade in MacBook Air for Surface Pro 3

MacBook-vs-Surface-3

Remember when Microsoft took the wraps off its new 12-inch Surface Pro 3 while comparing it to a MacBook Air last month? Microsoft is hoping that argument was convincing enough to at least some MacBook users with a new trade-in offer allowing MacBook Air owners to get up to $650 off a new Surface Pro 3. All they have to do is hand over their MacBook Air and hop on the productivity train with their new Windows 8 hybrid tablet/ultrabook.

With the trade-in discount, the $799 base model Surface Pro 3 comes to just $150.

Surface-Pro-3-Macbook-trade-in-offer

We’re assuming the full $650 trade-in value will be for the latest Air models in good condition, and the deal will require you to hunt down a Microsoft retail store by July 2014 to complete the trade-in. Any takers?

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Comments

  1. Michael Superczynski - 10 years ago

    HA! HA! HA! HA! HA!!!!!!

    • Ronald Vicentini - 10 years ago

      Its not much news anymore that Microsoft is doing something like this. Who would want anything from Microsoft anymore. Software crashes and hardware is cheap and plastic. Let alone drivers and the windows 8 OS that sucks big time. Microsoft used to dominate the market at one point. Lets hope it gets used to be second best. Me. I wouldn’t touch a laptop with windows 7 or 8 anymore, even if i had one for free. I would go Linus if i had no other option.

  2. Fredy Rosal (@fredyrosal) - 10 years ago

    Gee … I’ll pass … thank you ;)

  3. OneOkami (@OneOkami) - 10 years ago

    What’s up with that (original) headline, man? I saw it before it was changed.

    • Jordan Kahn - 10 years ago

      Relax.

    • Miloš Miloradović - 10 years ago

      It still is there. Look at the URL. Really unbelievable.

      • Dave Huntley - 10 years ago

        How is it unbelievable? It’s there, so it’s believable. It’s also quite funny.

        Life is not to be taken so seriously. Really. There’s no medal at the end because you cannot see the funny side to things.

      • tgaabor - 10 years ago

        I find Mixrosoft’s offer more disturbing, than Jordan’s opinion. It is especially after 2 unsuccessful Surface generation. All generation of MBAs and iPads were a real success. So I think Microsoft should start to produce quality products and softwares and then perhaps the desired success will come to them too. No need for dirty tricks, because customers are not dum.

    • Microsoft saw it and got heated….

    • Dan Eaton - 10 years ago

      I’m guessing it’s the same one as is in the address bar?

  4. Chindavon (@Chindavon) - 10 years ago

    I can get $800 + selling it myself. Trade up? Ya right.

  5. Jack Matthews - 10 years ago

    Oh that is funny!

  6. Vida András - 10 years ago

    This is just sad… Soooo sad… If someone even trades in, it will be because of the money… they sell the surface shit too and that got $1000 to but the latest kick-ass Air on the market

  7. Simon Potts (@simoncbp) - 10 years ago

    Maybe if they offered $650 AND the tablet for the MBA…

  8. Andrew Messenger - 10 years ago

    lol love the original headline

    microsoft-is-obviously-trading-its-crap-tablet-for-computers-they-can-actually-use

  9. Mauro Schumacher - 10 years ago

    hahahah no fuckin’ way…even if Microsoft pays me 650 bucks

  10. James Alexander - 10 years ago

    would not even want one for free.

  11. malyopamalyopa - 10 years ago

    Well, if Microsoft is wealing to take my 2008 macbok air for 650 i’m up for that, get the surface for 150, sell it and buy me a better macbook

  12. Hahaha this is great! the thing is in one year the Surface Pro 3 will be worth about $200. In a year a 2013 MacBook Air’s value is $650 on ebay with an i5, 128 GB of storage and 4GB of RAM, some are even selling way above the price of the Surface Pro 3. I think this is really funny. Surface Pro 3 looses too much value after 1 year.

  13. c1ce091b - 10 years ago

    They will have to pry my dead hands off of it, its the only way I am giving up my Apple products for the blue-screen of death!

  14. Tim Jr. - 10 years ago

    Not happening.. nope, never, nada.. That trade-in would only have value to the few that DONT want to continue to use the Apple Eco-system.. and while I’m certain there are some, it’s far and few and it is much more telling that they would target Apple in the trade in rather than have a general trade-in program…

    Just a guess; they are not selling nearly as many as they had hopped.

    • Of course they’re not selling as many as they had hoped. Who would buy that? It’s not a tablet and it’s not a notebook either. It’s clear they don’t have people to think and completely missed the point, they’re just wasting their money trying to beat Apple but they miss the point. It’s not about beating someone, it’s about making something that will blow everyone away by how amazing it is, but that’s now something what Microsoft can do.

      • * … that’s not something …

      • terminalcode2014 - 10 years ago

        The Surface Pro 3 is just a fail. The original Surface Pro failed, so did the Surface Pro 2, did anyone really expect the Surface Pro 3 to do any better. If they won’t it to replace a lap top at least give it a video card. Windows 8 and the Surface Pro line coupled with the fact Microsoft has already dropped Windows XP support and are going to drop Windows 7 support is causing Microsofts own down spiral. Well I guess they are just forcing people to buy superior computers over whatever their inferior surface tablet/laptop is supposed to be.

      • thejuanald - 10 years ago

        To be fair, terminalcode2014, the macbook air also has an integrated Intel gpu. Granted, the new macbook air has a 5000 series chip while the surface pro 3 has the 4000 series.

        I don’t know about the Surface Pro 3, because I haven’t had the chance to use it, but my Surface Pro 2 is fantastic. It has completely replaced the ipad, being able to take notes, do math problems, and draw using a great pen is amazing (I tried using the ipad 3 I have as a not taking device. Over $150, and multiple styli, later, I flat out gave up on that thing ever being useful for note taking). If I need to type a lot or use mac specific software, my MacBook Air comes right out, but the Surface Pro 2 has been a great companion to my Air.

      • thejuanald - 10 years ago

        That being said, I’d never trade my Air in for a Pro. If I wanted to sell the Air and purchase the Surface Pro 3, i would sell it myself and get more money than they could offer me.

      • terminalcode2014 - 10 years ago

        thejaunald I get what your saying. For me though I don’t use a tablet. Anything I can do on a tablet is either done on my phone or on a computer and I don’t want what’s trying to be a tablet and laptop at the same time. I would rather have a laptop or even a desktop.
        The Surface line has been a fail for Microsoft as they have already taken over a billion dollar loss on the entire line of them. It’s a money pit and Windows 8 not being liked by many is not helping them. Yes there are those who like Windows 8 but I don’t like it and I’m even Microsoft office certified which is supposed to be the big feature of the surface tablet. Out of all the people I have talked to have used Windows 8 maybe 1 in 20 of the people I have talked to liked it. The rest said they wish they hadn’t bought it in the first place. On X Box it works. On Desktops, Laptops, Tablets, and Phones it doesn’t work for most people.
        In my opinion Microsoft should shelf the surface line. Then instead of dropping Windows 7 support next year keep it around. From there they need to stop trying to fix Windows 8 just go back to the drawing board using what they have from consumer feedback and make Windows 9. Then shelf Windows 8 and Microsoft wants to cut Windows 7 support.

  15. scumbolt2014 - 10 years ago

    #FAIL

  16. Quite amazing joke hahahaha can’t stop laughing :D

  17. crichton007 - 10 years ago

    Um, no.

  18. pecospeet - 10 years ago

    I would consider it if they will take my 2011 MBA, but only after I get a new MBA / MBP later this year.

  19. This made my day, they can’t be serious :D :D :D :D

  20. Hńš Mrśtł - 10 years ago

    There’s a Surface 3? What happened to the first two iterations? I love my MacBook Air; thank you.

    • terminalcode2014 - 10 years ago

      They weren’t selling as well as Microsoft hoped for and Microsofts already taken over a billion dollar loss on the line so far.

  21. charilaosmulder - 10 years ago

    des·per·ate adjective \ˈdes-p(ə-)rət, -pərt\
    : very sad and upset because of having little or no hope : feeling or showing despair

  22. Howie Isaacks - 10 years ago

    What about those of us with a top of the line (for now) MacBook Pro? I guess we’re just screwed. This whole thing is laughable. Clearly, they have so low faith in their own product that they have to bribe people to buy them. You won’t see Apple do this to lure people away from their Surface Pro, or other tablet PCs. Apple not only produces much better products, but they have faith in what they make.

  23. abel9037 - 10 years ago

    Is that how desperate they are to get costomers, I thought new products are successfull when they are first released? I don’t think its worth it and I bet they’ll extend it because of no one attending/participating

  24. Hammond Cheeseborough - 10 years ago

    And soon eBay will have pages upon pages of Surface 3 auctions…

  25. Mark Kwong - 10 years ago

    How is the original headline unacceptable? It’s speaks truth.

  26. Mark Kwong - 10 years ago

    I’m surprised the new MS CEO would allow stupid crap like this to go through.

    • Howie Isaacks - 10 years ago

      I’m not. Idiocy is part of their culture. Dumb crap like this happened under that idiot Ballmer, and it’s still happening. These people have no taste or class… and it shows.

      • Dave Huntley - 10 years ago

        Ballmer of course didn’t have the foresight needed for a tech company he was out of ideas. he laughed off the iPhone and the iPad, MS for eons had tried to get tablets working, but they were all huge laptops with a stylus. So now MS is trying to play catch up. They may get a few customers here but the comparison seems off – the Air is a full laptop, so productivity apps not a question – so going to a tablet? If they had offered a deal on old ipads to go to a surface it might have made more sense. I cannot see them getting many takers, but you never know.

      • Howie Isaacks - 10 years ago

        Clearly they don’t understand why people buy MacBook Airs. A lot of my customers use them because they offer great performance and light weight. Why would they want to go to a Surface when they already have what they need? I’m not sure that iPad users would be willing to do this either. Why do this when they can buy another iPad and continue using the same apps that they have spent years accumulating? Screw MS Office. There are lots of alternatives that offer the same features and capabilities.

  27. scumbolt2014 - 10 years ago

    microsoft-is-obviously-trading-its-crap-tablet-for-computers-they-can-actually-use/

    Truth hurts

  28. Ben Radcliffe (@BenRadUK) - 10 years ago

    I need an upgrade to my MacBook Air in fact: trade in MacBook Air, get Surface for dirt cheap, sell Surface for profit on eBay, buy new MacBook Air.
    Microsoft just funded my new Apple machine…THANKS!

    • tgaabor - 10 years ago

      Selling the Surface will be tricky. As you can see Microsoft has also trouble with it. ;-)

  29. rafalb177 - 10 years ago

    Thank you, don’t like copycats. Besides, cheap crap is cheap crap. Always pre fare quality products.

  30. Guillaume Gosseau - 10 years ago

    just out of curiosity, what was the original headline?

  31. Roman Dutchak - 10 years ago

    Ok, but what for? Why do I need this shit?

  32. Peace Epee - 10 years ago

    What if I lose the Surface pen?

    • Michael Superczynski - 10 years ago

      That is one reason why Steve was adamant about using just the finger. Regarding this offer, I have a certain finger raised right now.

Author

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Jordan Kahn

Jordan writes about all things Apple as Senior Editor of 9to5Mac, & contributes to 9to5Google, 9to5Toys, & Electrek.co. He also co-authors 9to5Mac’s Logic Pros series.