[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.

Sounds like Microsoft. I wouldn't pay to test their products - they should
pay me.

I can understand them charging a small fee to distribute the CDs even though
they can probably afford to send them free. But, them making profit from it
is simply outrageous.

> 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?)

Yes. This appears to be true.

> 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.

I was given IE4 to test almost a year before MIcrosoft released it to the
public. They sent me a CD with a letter requesting that I test it and let
them know how it was. I did this, but if they were going to charge me to do
work for them - there is no way I would.
    I discovered quite a few bugs such as with the Active Desktop freezing
the system, and more.

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

I think their buggy software says enough :)

--Shaun



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