After recruiting Siri to bad-mouth the iPad, launching an iPad comparison site, and picking on the iPad mini, Microsoft now wants to buy your Apple tablet. The Surface maker has launched a promotion at its brick-and-mortar stores in the US that lets iPad 2, iPad 3, and iPad 4 owners trade in their tablets for at least a $200 gift card. The devices have to be "gently used" and the offer is only available in Microsoft Stores in the US and Canada, and not online.

The deal is designed to convince iPad owners to switch to Surface tablets. Microsoft was forced to cut its Surface RT price by 30 percent worldwide after slow device sales and a $900 million write down. The company has also cut its Surface Pro tablet by $100 recently. Microsoft is holding a special Surface event in New York City on September 23rd where it's expected to launch the Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2. Both devices include an adjustable kickstand and faster processors, but they're expected to look very similar to the existing models. Microsoft's trade-in offer ends on October 27th, so providing new models launch before then this deal should allow iPad owners to get at least $200 off the new Surface 2 tablets.