Want the new MacBook Pro? Not so fast. Microsoft is hoping to sway you towards a Surface Pro or Surface Book instead.
Mere hours after Apple’s keynote announcement, Microsoft made its own announcement: Anyone in the U.S. can trade in their MacBook Air or MacBook Pro at the Microsoft Store (retail or online) for up to $650 off the purchase of a new Surface Pro or Surface Book. The offer is valid until 11:59 p.m. Pacific on November 10, 2016, while supplies last. Update: Microsoft has extended the offer until November 23.
Follow these four steps to take advantage of Microsoft’s offer:
- Visit this site to determine your trade-in value.
- Give Microsoft your old laptop and accessories.
- Receive an email with a promo code.
- Use the promo code at checkout to get your discount.
Given that the Surface Pro starts at $899 and the Surface Book starts at $1,499, you could potentially get the former for $250 and the latter for $850. But that’s the best-case scenario, so you should probably expect to pay more than that (Microsoft’s trade-in site lists 117 different MacBook models).
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The timing is perfect given that Microsoft yesterday unveiled the Surface Book i7. If you’re not impressed with what Apple announced today, Microsoft hopes statements like these will convince you to get a Surface instead: “No device line up can match the performance, portability and versatility of the Surface family” and “If you have a Mac but want to experience the ultimate laptop with on-screen touch, Surface and Microsoft Store are here for you.”
Instead of a touchscreen, the new MacBook Pro has a Touch Bar above the keyboard, replacing the function keys. Microsoft notes that 97 percent of Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book users “use touch input regularly” and that Surface owners tell the company “they can’t imagine using a laptop without touch due to its ease and convenience.”
It’s a decent offer, but Mac users have been waiting on new hardware for years. On the other hand, Apple won’t give you this much money for your old MacBook.
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