The hefty price cut offered by Microsoft on the Windows 8.1-powered Dell Venue 8 Pro tablet on Monday was a success with units sold out within minutes that Microsoft bricks-and-mortar stores opened at 7:30 am.

The first 20 units were sold for only $99 or $200 less than the original tag price for the 32GB model, while the price went up to $199 for the 21st customer of each store until supply lasted.

Online stores also offered the $99 price for the first 100 buyers and $199 for the subsequent purchasers.

The tablet included a copy of Office Home and Student 2013.

YouTube/TechCrunch

However, it turned out that the $99 Dell Venue 8 Pro tablet offer is just the first of Microsoft's version of 12 days of Christmas as the tech giant is slated to offer more good deals to consumers in a bid to sell more Windows 8.1-powered devices.

But Microsoft has yet to announce the next 11 offers.

The move aims to boost the weak sales of Windows-powered gadgets. However, according to researcher IDC, for 2013, Windows tablets would comprise only 3 per cent of tablet global shipments, although by 2017, it share is expected to go up to 10 per cent.

YouTube/Dell

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