Apple to get youngsters hooked early on mobile computing

Every year, Apple does a Back-to-School promotion during the summer time to spur sales of its computers. This year, the word on the street was that it would be the biggest promotion yet. Some details are now coming in about the promotion which is scheduled to kick-off tomorrow — and it’s a doozy.

Apple is set to give away a free 8 gigabyte iPod Touch valued at $299 to any student who buys a qualifying Mac, according to MacRumors.

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So why is this a big deal?

First, value-wise this is larger than any give-away Apple has done before. In the past, Apple had given away cheaper versions of the iPod, notably the iPod Mini and iPod Nano with the purchase of a new computer.

Second, this effectively will put a mobile computing device in the hands of thousands of impressionable minds. If you believe, as I do, that Apple is gearing up to make a big push for mobile computing this year (perhaps even taking on Microsoft Mesh with a new .Mac syncing replacement dubbed “Me”), this could be an important entry point.

Apple can get students started using their free iPod Touches. Then perhaps they opt to upgrade to an iPhone. Then maybe they’ll buy a new Mac Tablet or Newton-type device if and when it comes out. You can kiss the desktop computer goodbye. It’s time to start training the young minds of today about the future of computing: mobile.

Students can also opt to get an 8 gigabyte iPod Nano, though I’m not sure why they would as it’s valued $100 less than the iPod Touch.