The offer is only good until July 31 when you trade in certain models, which need to be in good working condition, but the fine-print terms are vague and don't say which models are actually valid.
Microsoft conveniently offers a comparison of their tablet to the Macbook Air, but in the full picture, it doesn't seem as though the tablet holds up as a good contender to the Macbook, even if it has been cleverly slated as a laptop replacement that can do everything a Macbook can do—and more.
The Macbook Air starts at $899 for an 11-inch model with 128GB flash storage and goes up to $1199 for the top-end 13-inch with 256GB of flash storage. The Surface Pro 3 comes with a 12-inch screen and starts at $799 for only 64GB storage, but you need to purchase the $130 Type Cover keyboard separately to get the tablet's full function—making the lowest price $930. By that, it only leaves you with a $70 difference between the 13-inch Macbook Air with 128GB flash storage. A 256GB Pro 3 will cost you $1,549—$350 more expensive than a 13-inch Macbook Air with the same configuration, and that doesn't even include the Type Cover!
Although they both have some similarities in hardware and strive to cram in an entire desktop in the lightest and slimmest portable device, the key difference between the Macbook Air and the Pro 3 is the display quality. The Surface Pro 3's display has a 2160 x 1440 (216 ppi) resolution, whereas the 13-inch Macbook Air's display has a 1440 x 900 (128 ppi) resolution, and it's even lower on the 11-inch Air. The Pro 3 also has a battery life of 9 hours, whereas the Macbook Air has up to 12 hours.
Sure, the better screen resolution, slightly lighter tablet (Microsoft boasts its 2.4 pounds as opposed to 2.96 pounds), and a touchscreen with a detachable keyboard may make the Surface Pro 3 attractive, but you're not really getting a good deal for your buck.
Even if you traded in your perfectly functioning Macbook Air to get the full discount, the cheapest Surface Pro 3 would come with half the memory, shorter battery life, and you'd still have to purchase the keyboard. Nice try, Microsoft.
The only benefit of this promotion is actually making people talk about both products. (I see what you did there, Microsoft. Kudos.)
Microsoft isn't new to promising consumers a good deal if they ditched their current devices for new Microsoft ones. In January, they ran a promotion that offered $100 off the Xbox One if you ditched your PS3.
What do you guys think? Are you holding on to your Macbook Air, or are you debating whether the Surface Pro 3 is the way to go? Let us know in the comment section below.
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