It’s a Giveaway | Microsoft Store Review + $100 Gift Card Giveaway

microsoft store

You know those “I’m a PC” commercials?

I always thought they were cute. And clever.

But not for me.

Meaning, I’m a Mac girl — all the way.

But then I ventured into the new Microsoft Retail Store in Overland Park — and I’ll be honest, I can see them winning me over. Especially  their new Surface tablet, but more on that below.

(By the way, I went to the store in Overland Park, KS, because that’s where I live – but there are more than 50 stores all over the United States. You can find one near you HERE).

Microsoft Retail Stores

The space itself is fantastic. It’s open, bright, friendly — a technological wonderland.

There are demo stations with the latest and greatest in Microsoft gadgetry — the Surface, desktop & laptop computers, the Xbox 360 (with a huge library of games to play) and their full line of smartphones, including the fantastic Windows phone.

Xbox Wall of games

The store is completely child-friendly; I took my boys and they spent 3o minutes playing MLB 2K13 on the biggest screens they’d ever seen. (I continue to be awed by the graphics of the XBox.)

The staff was incredibly hands-on and helpful — including teaching my nine year-old a hack he never knew for setting up his team. (Which apparently was “the coolest thing” ever for said 9 year-old.)

Classes & Camps

In the back of each store there is an open class room/ event space, where Microsoft Retail Store employees host weekly classes about everything tech under the sun. There are educational workshops, business events, developer workshops, interactive gaming sessions, and toddler tech time.  And all of them are FREE.

There are even FREE summer camps for tots and big kids. And yes, I did sign up my 9 year old for a week-long camp on programming your own video game (G-d help me!).

microsoft store class

I also learned that Microsoft Retail Stores will design & host your event – whether it’s for a homeschool group, a Boy Scout or Girl Scout troupe, a youth group, a lunch-and-learn… Whatever you can dream up, I think you’ll hear a “Yes!”

You can even host a birthday party at the Microsoft Store (and yes, that’s FREE, too).

Find out more about classes, camps & events at your local Microsoft Retail store HERE.

Support & Training

If you already own a Microsoft device, you may want to take advantage of their free one-on-one product training & support sessions.

Whether your issue is hardware or software, or you  just want to learn how to take full advantage of all the capacity your gadget comes with, they can walk you through it. Even if you didn’t buy your laptop/X-box/phone/tablet at their store — they will help you! (And yes, it’s FREE, too.)

The Surface

So of all the gadgets in the store, the one that really had me singing a new tune was the Surface. Have you seen this tablet yet? For a Mac girl, I was totally WOW’ed.

It answers all the hesitations I’ve had about getting a tablet — you see, I have feared that a tablet won’t give me enough capabilities. And that I’ll just end up using my laptop anyway, while the kids played games on the tablet (which seems like way too much money to spend on a “toy” for them.)

But the Surface Pro is essentially a tablet-sized laptop. (Or should that be a laptop-capable tablet?)

And I’m not gonna lie, the keyboard that clicks onto the Surface? So cool. (The pretty keyboard colors are nice eye candy, too.)

Surface Tablet

The apps are also amazing. No, you don’t have the whole ipad app store at your disposal (which is the only downside I see), but you get incredible things like Fresh Paint. Even my seven year-old “art project-averse” kid got into it!

As I said, I was definitely impressed. And because I think you’ll be impressed too, I am thrilled to be able to give away a $100 Microsoft Retail Store Gift Card to one lucky Kosher on a Budget reader.

Here’s how to enter the giveaway:

Leave a comment on this post telling me your favorite tech gadget – Microsoft or otherwise. This comment is required to be entered to win this giveaway.

For up to four additional entries, you may do one, some, all or none of the following:

Like Kosher on a Budget on Facebook, then come back and leave a separate comment telling me that you have done so. If you already like KOAB, thank you — just leave a comment to that effect.

Subscribe to the Kosher on a Budget Newsletter for a once daily dose of the best deals, money-saving tips and more. Please leave a separate comment that you have subscribed (or were already a subscriber).

Like Microsoft Retail Stores on Facebook, then leave a separate comment to let me know you have done so.

Follow Microsoft Retail on Twitter, then leave a separate comment to let me know you have done so.

This giveaway is open only to residents of the United States who are 18 or older. Entries will be accepted until Wednesday, May 22nd at 11:59 p.m. CST (I’m giving you plenty of time to enter, since Shavuot is in the middle of next week). The winner will be selected randomly and notified by email immediately. He or she will have 48 hours to respond. Good luck!

Disclosure: This post is a sponsored conversation by The Motherhood and Microsoft Retail Stores. You can find Microsoft Retail stores on Pinterest, Facebook and Twitter

My glowingly positive opinions of the store and the Surface are all my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC regulations. And also because I want you to know. For more information about sponsored content, please see my Disclosure Statement.

Comments

  1. I like smartphones. Wish I had one!!

  2. D SCHMIDT says

    My favorite tech gadget is my HP Pavillion Notebook

  3. D SCHMIDT says

    I like Microsoft Stores on facebook

  4. Tabathia B says

    my kindle fire

    tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com

  5. Tabathia B says

    email subscriber

    tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com

  6. Tabathia B says

    like microsoft on facebook: michelle b

    tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com

  7. Tabathia B says

    like on facebook: michelle b

  8. love my iphone, but I have windows 8 on my computer!

  9. favorite tech gadget(s): samsung galaxy 3 phone and Kindle Fire HD….cant wait to try the surface!

  10. My favorite gadget is my iPad. It is very handy to use when I am on the road.

  11. I like Microsoft Store on Facebook as Nancy Hall

  12. I am following Microsoft Store on Twitter as njhhb.

  13. Thomas Murphy says

    I like my Dell computer

  14. Thomas Murphy says

    I like you on FB as Thomas Murphy

  15. Thomas Murphy says

    im a newsletter subscriber

  16. Thomas Murphy says

    I like microsoft on FB as Thomas Murphy

  17. Thomas Murphy says

    i follow microsoft on twitter @thomasmurphy40

  18. I love (and Liked) KOAB on FB

  19. I get KOAB newsletters

  20. I liked the Microsoft FB page

  21. My labtop!

  22. *Laptop – sorry for the typo 🙂

  23. I already like Kosher On A Budget on facebook

  24. I follow Microsoft on twitter

  25. Like Microsoft on Facebook

  26. I like both my iPad and iPhone!

  27. Tziporah M. says

    I guess my fav gadget is my kindle fire. I think it is my only gadget. 😉

  28. Tziporah M. says

    Already subscribe to newletter

  29. Already like KOAB!

  30. Already liked KOAB!

  31. Tziporah M. says

    I like kosher on a budget

  32. Already subscribe to KOAB

  33. MJ Kanner says

    I love your blog. Open minded re Microsoft. Thank you.

  34. I love the Kindle Fire.

  35. Liked on Facebook

  36. subscribed to newsletter

  37. we only buy microsift, so would be able to put this to great use.
    and thank you for saving me so much money following your amazing tips!

  38. Already subscribe to KOAB, and love it!

  39. Hi
    I love the KOAB emails that I receive already!

  40. I just got a Windows phone how cool!

  41. I subscribe to your newsletter, and recommend it to all family and friends.

  42. Already like KOAB in Facebook

  43. My favorite gadget right now is the iPad, I needed to get it for school and its been great!
    Im not a big fan of apple products, but the iPad works really well for school … and games!

  44. Already subscribe to daily newsletter

  45. I like the kindle fire, wish i had one!

  46. I just liked KOAB on facebook!

  47. I Liked Microsoft Retail Stores on Facebook

  48. I love my iPad.

  49. I like KOAB on facebook

  50. I subscribe to KOAB by email