Microsoft Hardware Offers Canadian Students the Opportunity to Work Smart,
Play Hard and Win Big!

Canadian Students Can Win the Ultimate Student Prize Pack or Tuition Cash

TORONTO, July 21 /CNW/ - Microsoft Canada's hardware division launched a nation-wide "Back to School" contest aimed at making sure that students returning to school this fall have all the right tools they need to succeed. Microsoft is giving away three (3) ultimate student grand prize packs - containing approximately $3,000 worth of gear, including a Dell Notebook, Arc Mouse and Keyboard, Windows Phone and much, much more. Students can also submit a 250-word online essay about how Microsoft hardware can help them succeed in school for the chance to win five bonus prizes of $1,000 tuition cash. Until September 30, 2010 at 11:59PM EDT, Canadian students and their immediate family can enter to win online at www.microsoft.ca/studentcontest.

"Being a student has always been tough - balancing school, work, life, family and friends," said Charles Chang, product manager, Microsoft Canada - Hardware. "Microsoft wants to help students work smart and play hard by offering them fun and stylish products that allow them to maximize their productivity."

Microsoft's hardware line offers students a wide range of affordable computer accessories aimed at increasing productivity in stylish designs that students will actually want to use. Both fun and functional, hardware products include HD LifeCams that allow students to share life and stay in touch with friends and family, a wide assortment of colourful mice with the ability to track on virtually any surface, and fashionable, and slim keyboards designed to comfortably type those all-nighter essays.

Students and their immediate families can enter online for the chance to win one of three Ultimate Student Prize packs. Additional entries to win can be obtained with the purchase of a participating Microsoft(R) Hardware product. Five $1,000 bonus tuition prizes are available to be won by students who submit an online essay. Contest information and a wide selection of Microsoft Hardware products can be found in store at Staples, Best Buy, London Drugs and Walmart. Please visit www.microsoft.ca/studentcontest for full contest details and regulations.

    
    * Eligible Students and/or their family member must provide
        satisfactory proof of current registration in a Canadian college or
        university and/or registration of a Canadian Registered Education
        Savings Plan account. No purchase necessary. Contest ends September
        30th 2010. Selected winners will be required to correctly answer a
        skill-testing question.
    

About Microsoft Hardware

For more than 26 years, the Hardware Group has employed innovative engineering, cutting-edge industrial design and extensive usability testing to create products of exceptional quality and durability that enhance the software experience and strengthen the connection between consumers and their PC. Microsoft Hardware works in ergonomic engineering, industrial design and hardware/software compatibility, offering consumers an easy, convenient and enjoyable computing experience. In 2008, the Hardware Group debuted the Microsoft's most advanced tracking technology - Microsoft BlueTrack Technology - allowing consumers to track on more surfaces than optical and laser mice.

About Microsoft Canada

Microsoft Corporation (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing.

Microsoft Canada Co. was founded in 1985. As the Canadian subsidiary of Microsoft Corporation in Redmond, Washington, the company provides sales, marketing, consulting and local support services in French and English. Microsoft Canada has grown from five people in 1985 to more than 900 employees. It also has strong relationships with more than 24,000 partners across Canada. More than 1,100 of these are Microsoft Certified Partners, and over 200 are Gold Certified Partners. Headquartered in Mississauga, Microsoft Canada has regional offices in Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec and Halifax.

For further information: press only: Matt Chandler for Microsoft Canada, [phone], [email protected]; Christine Law for Microsoft Canada, [phone], [email protected]