Microsoft Entices Users To Upgrade To Windows 8.1 With $50 Gift Card

While talk about Microsoft working on a free version of Windows 8.1 is going around – which is good press, definitely – the company is not yet done with its campaign to get loyal Windows XP users to upgrade. (By the way, have you seen the warning popup on Windows XP yet?) Given all that the company has done to try to convince everyone to let go of its iconic operating system, it still has a few tricks up its sleeve.

Earlier this month, they launched a campaign offering a $50 gift card to customers who buy one of the devices Microsoft has selected. These include 16 devices, covering a range of notebooks, desktops, tablets, or 2-in-1 hybrids – all running on Windows 8.1, naturally.

These devices cost anywhere from $229 (a Dell tablet) to $1,299 (an HP Envy Recline 27).  You’ll find the deals on a special page, where you cannot miss the “reminder” that Windows XP support is ending. Here’s a quick rundown of the laptops and tablets that you can choose from.

Laptops

• ASUS VivoBook X200CA-9BCT Touchscreen Laptop
• Acer Aspire V5-122P-0646 Touchscreen Laptop
• Acer Aspire V5-473P-6459 Touchscreen Laptop
• Dell Inspiron 15RM-5128sLV Touchscreen Laptop

Tablets

• Dell Venue 8 Pro Tablet – 32GB
• Nokia Lumia 2520 Tablet for AT&T
• HP Omni 10 5610 Touchscreen Tablet
• Dell Venue 11 Pro Tablet

There is no doubt that there are some pretty good deals to be had this month, and if you are in the market for a new Windows-based device, then this is a good time to look around and shop.

And, just so you know, the enticement does not stop with the $50 gift card. Customers who buy during the promo period, which is from March 6 to March 30 of this year, will also get 90 days of free support PLUS free data transfer.

Sure, the situation can probably be likened to the proverbial carrot on a stick, but a good deal is a good deal; although who says it’s good enough to get people to upgrade? What say you?

[Images via Microsoft Store & microsoftupdateshelp]