Microsoft is trying to woo Mac developers away from Apple’s operating system and shift them towards Microsoft’s Windows platform with a new campaign. Microsoft is offering Mac developers a QuickStart kit that comes with Windows 8 Pro and Parallels Desktop 8.
After you donate $25 to one of three charities (Watsi.org, Kahn Academy or Code.org), Microsoft will send you a USB thumb drive containing Windows 8 Pro and Parallels Desktop 8 for “free” (if you don’t count the donation). You still have to pay $8 for shipping or $16 if you are outside the US. Its a heck of a deal! However, the offer is valid until supplies run out.
The free version of Windows that will be included is Windows 8 Pro, which can be installed on Bootcamp, a Mac utility that lets you install Windows on your Mac. The OEM version of Windows 8 currently sells for around $140. Microsoft wants to help developers get started on their first break-though.
Developers can head over to Swish.com and order the USB drive, but developers must complete a small puzzle on the check-out page. Microsoft is scheduled to ship these USB drives by the end of this month.
