For the past couple of years, Microsoft has given college students in the US a way to get a free Xbox 360 game console with the purchase of a new Windows PC. This year, Microsoft"s back-to-school PC sales promotion is just a little bit different.
The effort is called Chip In, and this time Microsoft wants an eligible student"s family and friends to help contribute to the cost of a new Windows PC or tablet via a crowdsourcing website. Students can go to the Chip In website and find a PC they want to get from a list of eligible products. Then the student creates a "giving page" on the site and send the URL to people that can help pay for the new PC. Microsoft will go ahead and "chip in" the first 10 percent of that cost.
The kicker is that the first 10,000 students to have their family and friends fully fund their back-to-school PC via Chip In will also receive a free four year subscription to Office 365 University. This college version of Office 365 would normally cost $79.99 for the full four years. The Chip In promotion runs now until September 1st. Students have to have a valid .edu email address or "documentation to prove enrollment in a university or accredited institution" in order to participate.
Source: Windows Chip In | Image via Microsoft