Changed the title, there's really no need to mention the PS4 if you're posting about a deal involving Microsoft products.

If I'm going to spend that sort of money on a computer it;s going to be a PC capable of playing the latest games on at least the minimum settings. For my portable computing needs I spend less than half that amount.

So it's a great deal, but one I would never realistically consider, as I would buy a laptop and a Xb one for less than the sticker price of the Surface.

They really aren't, at least, not the Surface Pro 3's and 4's.

The original Surface RT was pretty lame though.

Its evident MS is clearing out old models for the X1 S.

I bought a brand new X1 with Kinect, for $215 on eBay. That included free shipping and no tax either. Its pretty insane for such a powerful device.

This, the Surface Pro series has been overall fantastic from the word go. One of my clients uses them exclusively in replacement for the ultrabooks they used previously. It helps to not even think of them as tablets imho. They are basically thin laptops running full blown Windows. Great for businesses who depend on Windows applications and network capability. Personally I kind of hate the keyboards on them, but I hate all super thin keyboards as a matter of personal taste/preference.

Surface RT was doomed because MS's inroads for their 'app' world are bad even now, and were abominably terrible when they tried to launch that product. For that matter, Windows Phone/app is never going to be more than niche in the face of Apple and Google imho. At the same time, Apple is smoking amazing crack if they think they're going to challenge Microsoft with iPad Pro. It's a nice iPad, but it's absolute trash for business use. iOS is for mobile apps, texting, reading content, listening to music, etc. But multitasking in a business-demand environment? LOL, nope. Honestly the roles in tech are so well defined at the moment that markets are maturing and becoming predictable.

On topic, this is a strange combo that I don't think will have a huge impact. Maybe some college students will want to do this perhaps? Surface Pros are virtually only sold to business-oriented users. College kids almost always buy either :

(A)- a dirt cheap Windows laptop because they just want to get crap done and don't want to spend a lot

or

(B)- a MacBook Air or Pro, because they think it's still 2010 and love wasting money

Agreed. My Surface Pro 4 is the best tablet I've owned so far, despite some minor hiccups which I attribute moreso to the Windows 10 Insider Program than I do to the hardware itself.

Canada too.

I don't think it's intended to really boost the sales all that much, considering you have to show student verification if you're purchasing it on the website. If I'm not mistaken, it's similar to their education discount. I have to punch in a valid school email address as a teacher in order to get the discounts on whatever I buy. They may be more lax in the retail stores, but I don't think this is for anyone and everyone looking to grab one. It's also similar to how Apple used to sell macbooks near back to school season with a free iPod Touch for students (haven't bought an Apple product in awhile though, not sure if they still do this).

Okay kowenicki, if you say so :)

I have a surface pro 3 and its ok, but now I am longing for the days of a bigger screen and more power... but its been a good device. Not sure I am convinced to get another one though. I would say its biggest fault is its' processor power curbing when you are doing too many things and the fan... so noisey.