Microsoft Corp. this week said that students, who present appropriate IDs at select retailers, can receive free Xbox 360 game console this summer when they purchase Windows 7-based personal computers that cost over $699. The campaign will last till early September and is projected to increase popularity of both Windows 7 PCs as well as Xbox 360.

Microsoft stresses that students can buy any Windows-based PCs with the price of $699 or higher at participating retailers in the U.S., but the company specifically recommended HP Pavillion DM4, Dell Inspiron 14r and Samsung 9-series notebooks. The campaign will last from May 23 to September 9, 2011. Verification of the student status is required. Students will get Xbox 360 4GB game consoles for free with their PCs.

With the new campaign, the world's largest software designers follows Apple, which provides students during the back-to-school (BTS) season free iPod personal digital media players with the purchase of select Macintosh personal computers.

The move will help Microsoft to increase popularity of its latest operating system along with the Xbox 360 game console among students, a very prospective audience. Given the fact that a lot of students in the U.S. as well as colleges utilize Apple Macintosh systems, Microsoft does need to push its platforms into education segment.

Tags: Microsoft, Xbox, Windows, Apple, iPod