Take advantage of Microsoft's post-PC era panic at the Microsoft Store Web site. Windows 8 tablets and convertible devices are seeing price cuts as high as $350. It’s a Windows 8 fire sale! Well, not quite. But prices for Windows tablets and convertibles at the Microsoft Store Web site are dropping left and right. Microsoft may just be trying to push some stalled hardware from Asus, Samsung, HP and Toshiba out the door by giving shoppers a deal. Or could this be a sign of bigger trouble ahead? After all, PC sales are predicted to drop this year by 1.3 percent after a decline of 3.7 percent in 2012, according to research firm IDC. Microsoft and its hardware partners are up against a wall with increasing iPad and Android tablet popularity. Another threat is that people will run their Windows 7 laptops into the ground before making the leap to the very different Windows 8 OS. You think Windows XP lasted a long time — just wait till you see how long Windows 7 lasts. However, enough people are in limbo: Windows users with an XP or Vista laptop that’s on life support. They want a new ultrabook/laptop and not an iPad. They can’t afford a MacBook or would just rather use Windows. These people are probably on the older side, but they are out there. If you are in this group, and are up for bit of a learning curve with the tile-based Windows 8 user interface, here are three of the best deals highlighted on the Microsoft Store site. Toshiba Satellite U925t-S2130 Convertible Ultrabook Screen size: 12.5-inch touchscreen Hard drive size: 128 GB solid-state drive (SSD) Core i5 Intel chip Weight: 3.35 pounds Cut from $1,149 to $799 HP ENVY x2 11-g012nr Touchscreen Screen size: 11.6-inch touchscreen Hard drive size: 64 GB SSD Intel Atom 1.8GHz “Clover Trail” Z2760 chip Weight: 3.11 pounds Cut from $849 to $599 Samsung ATIV Smart PC Pro 700T Tablet Screen size: 11.6-inch touchscreen Hard drive size: 128 GB SSD Core i5 Intel chip Weight: 1.89 pounds Cut from $1,199 to $999 There are currently no price cuts for the Microsoft Surface Pro ($999 for 128GB, $899 for 64GB) or the Surface RT ($499 for 32GB, $599 for 64GB) on the Microsoft Store site. Related content opinion Last Words Before Closing Eye on Microsoft By Shane O'Neill Jun 05, 2013 3 mins Small and Medium Business Tablets Windows opinion With Rumored Reorg, Microsoft Tries to Simplify The mounting pressure on Steve Ballmer to streamline Microsoft is finally leading to some action. By Shane O'Neill Jun 03, 2013 3 mins IT Strategy Cloud Computing Computers and Peripherals opinion What You Need to Know About the New Lync and Skype Integration Audio calls and instant messaging are officially integrated between Lync and Skype, but no video connectivity yet. Here are some key points for users and IT admins about the new Lync-Skype connection. By Shane O'Neill May 29, 2013 3 mins Small and Medium Business Internet VoIP opinion Microsoft Should Leave the Competition Out of Ads Microsoft is in no position to disparage Google and Apple in TV ads, yet it keeps doing it. A new ad for Microsoft Surface turns inward and gets it right. By Shane O'Neill May 23, 2013 2 mins Small and Medium Business Tablets Internet Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe