Microsoft offers student deals countering Apple

Microsoft is launching a new "Microsoft College Offer" to compete with Apple's recently announced MacBook Neo, which is priced at $499 for students. This initiative targets US college students by bundling 12 months of free Microsoft 365 Premium and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate with discounted Windows 11 PCs from participating manufacturers like Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, and Lenovo. The company is also offering discounts on some Surface devices, despite recent price increases on its Surface Pro and Laptop models, aiming to attract students with significant value.