Want a Free iPod Touch? Too Bad; Apple Just Pulled the Plug on this Beloved Offer

Now Microsoft's

pledge to

to college students who buy a Windows machine does not seem so ridiculous. In fact, it seems downright

. In an effort to save money, try something different, or show just how powerful the company has become, Apple

has replaced its annual buy-a-Mac, get-an-iPod Touch deal for students with a paltry

that can be used at the App Store, Mac App Store, iTunes, or iBookstore.

picked up the story earlier today, and while this might sound like a solid deal for anyone who already owns an iPhone or an iPod Touch, the reality is that a $100 gift card is worth less than half of both devices. Whereas Apple's prior deal made Microsoft look cheap (even

), Apple's current deal is a great disappointment. At the very least, the company should have offered a $200 gift card.