[COMP] Re: Windows 2000

> Lately I've been thinking about how Microsoft
> charges for their beta CD's.  What was it last
> time, $50 or something?  So people were paying
> $50 for bug-riddled software which will intentionally
> cease to function after a few months.

Oh, but it's the latest-greatest!  I GOTTA have it!!!
 
> For the time and effort they have contributed by
> using this unstable beta software and sending bug
> reports to Microsoft, the beta testers get ... (drum roll) ...
> absolutely nothing!  Not even a discount offer for
> the release version (is this true?)

I think they get some incentive, discount, etc.  But I'm not sure on
that...
 
> I don't understand why people are paying Microsoft
> to do their beta testing for them.  Some thoughts:
> 
> *    By charging people to beta test, isn't Microsoft
>     creating a much smaller pool of beta testers?
>     If the software was available free (such as on the
>     internet or on those MSN CD's), I think there would
>     be *alot* more people testing it.

Yes.  But they make money, so they don't care.
 
> *    With a smaller pool of beta testers, less bugs
>     will be discovered.   So the software is going ship
>     with more bugs.

Yes, but they're making money, so they don't care.

> What does all of this say about Microsoft's attitude
> toward quality control?

Their methods of quality control are extremely inferior, and always have
been.  They write shoddy products at best, but the shame of it is that
the public at large swallows it, and isn't even aware that there are
viable alternatives.  You wanna see a decent release of Windows?  Give
us the source code and about two years.  

Linux -- you wanna test a beta?  Head over to kernel.org and download
it.  Despite being "beta," it'll still probably run forever; no
timebombs, no deathtraps, no non-disclosure agreements.

In a way, it's almost a shame to see Microsoft on their way out.  (Yes
folks, Microsoft's power is in a sharp decline - face it..)  It's a very
small shame though, so I won't linger on it.:)  Overall, it's a good
thing- we're seeing a big revolution in software development.  The
outcome will be better software, more freedom, better choices, cheaper
hardware, cheaper computers, better availability, ...anyone want to
continue the list?

John


-- 
# John Madden  weez@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx ICQ: 2EB9EA
# Sys-Admin / Webmaster, Avenir Web: http://avenir.dhs.org
# LANdb: Network Admin Database - http://avenir.dhs.org/landb/ 
# "A kernel compile a day keeps the blue screens away."

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