As tech aficionados settled down for the launch of some exciting new Windows 10 related gadgets from Microsoft, they were faced with a shock.
It wasn’t the 1,024 points of pressure on the new Surface pen. Or the thinnest Surface Pro ever. Nope. It was a guy in a fedora.
His name was Bryan Roper. He used to be a blues pianist for a living, a path that (rather unexpectedly) led him to Microsoft stardom.
According to this elegantly written profile on the Microsoft website, young Bryan’s first passion – ignited in the jazz bars of Florida – was playing the piano.
His experiences eventually took him to a cruise ship, fine-tuning his showmanship in front of a crowd of unruly, lightly boozed holidaymakers.
A marriage and a child later, Bryan (who had a background in web design) found himself on another cruise ship teaching passengers how to use Windows. He was discovered by Microsoft, took a job as a lead trainer (teaching the people who teach people how to use their tech), and that eventually took him to a stage at the Windows 10 event.
Here are some things people thought about that appearance.
1. People reacted incredulously.
2. People reacted with hostility.
3. In short, he was blowing people’s minds.
4. Some spectators’ interest was piqued by what fashion Microsoft might offer up next.
5. People started quoting him (rather misleadingly).
6. There was speculation that this headwear was quite the financial risk for Microsoft.
7. And some demanded to know how far up the chain of command this decision had travelled…
8. While others saw it simply as keeping up with the competition.
9. And some people just thought Bryan was everything.
10. No, really – they were in love.