Resident wins international Microsoft competition

Winners of the Microsoft Insiders Competition; Jenny Rink is in front row at left.

Winners of the Microsoft Insiders Competition; Jenny Rink is in front row at left.

SaddleBrooke Resident Jenny Rink won an all-expense paid trip to Microsoft International Headquarters in Redmond, Washington, in April. Jenny was one of the ten grand prizewinners who came from nine countries: Spain, Czech Republic, Brazil, Canada, Netherlands, India, Germany, Malaysia and the United States. The USA had two winners, both from Arizona!

Microsoft is designing a new version of Windows (Windows 10 – to follow Windows 8.1) and has developed a Windows Insider Program. To become an Insider, users all over the world can download the pre-release version of Windows 10. To date there are 3.5 million Windows Insiders making comments and suggestions to Microsoft on this new version.

Shortly after Jenny joined the program in early March, Microsoft invited all Insiders to submit a two to three minute video on what the Insider liked about the Windows Insider Program and Windows 10. They received over 1000 videos and Jenny’s video was one of the top ten chosen!

The winners were flown to Microsoft on April 22 and had discussions with several senior Windows leaders over the ensuing two days. In addition to the trip, each winner received a Surface Pro 3 valued at $1800, a new Windows Lumia phone, Visa cards worth $1650 and a number of other items. Jenny said, “It was a fantastic experience. The Microsoft leaders immediately recognized each one of us because they had reviewed the videos multiple times. All of the winners developed immediate friendships and it was a trip that none of us will ever forget!”