Microsoft’s new Windows 11 freebies are useful, but they also feel a little desperate

Microsoft is suddenly being a lot more generous with Windows laptops, and the timing is kind of hard not to notice. If you’re an eligible US college student, buying a Windows 11 PC can get you a year of Microsoft 365 Premium, a year of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, and a custom Xbox Wireless Controller through Xbox Design Lab.

This is the whole Microsoft package, with benefits adding up to $500 in value. This offer is running through June 30, 2026, or till supplies last. It is available through Microsoft, major retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart, and participating PC makers, including Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP, Lenovo, and Surface.

This is really not about making Windows better than a MacBook

In their official announcement, Microsoft is calling this the “ultimate college bundle” for student life. The company is framing

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