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John Nice - 29 Dec 2007 14:52 GMT

This morning, when making a quick visit to Microsoft Update (don't seem to
have seen any for a couple of weeks) I was informed I had been 'selected' to
participate in the beta trial of Silverlight. I have always been
anti-beta: why after all should I be an unpaid software tester? Anyway, I
thought I'd give it a crack so downloaded it. The front end was an utter
mess - the WWW equivalent of Woolworths on a closing down sale day. Picking
my way through the invitations to test my compatability with Vista (ugh) I
finally found the XP update area, where in the fulness of time I was told
there were seven updates for me. Clicking the Download link I was
straightaway back in the normal Windows update screen, where I was told
there were (wait for it) NO updates.

It begs the question: why are so many people so keen on getting into beta
programs? In all conscience there are enough bugs to find AFTER the product
is released. Anyway, so ends my beta testing career!

A happy new year to one and all.

John

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Xandros - 29 Dec 2007 15:07 GMT

Hi John. Happy New Year. This newsgroup is designed to assist people with
technical problems related to released versions of XP. It is not a forum for
discussing beta builds especially non XP betas. When you signed on for the
beta you were likely given a link to a forum where you can discuss your
concerns.

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Xandros

> This morning, when making a quick visit to Microsoft Update (don't seem to
> have seen any for a couple of weeks) I was informed I had been 'selected'
[quoted text clipped - 22 lines]
> avast! - copyright (c) 1988-2007 ALWIL Software.
> http://www.avast.com

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Shenan Stanley - 29 Dec 2007 15:07 GMT

> This morning, when making a quick visit to Microsoft Update (don't
> seem to have seen any for a couple of weeks) I was informed I had
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
> find AFTER the product is released. Anyway, so ends my beta
> testing career!

Personally - I don't mind testing something - but I am not about to do it on
my main PC (or the Windows install on the main PC I use daily.) I'd have to
have a reason to test it - not just because I saw it and it said BETA - but
because it did something I thought was worthwhile or knew I was going to
have ot support sooner or later anyway - might as well get a jump start.

You would be the best one to answer your own question...

You started with, "I have always been anti-beta..." but then proceded to
tell the story of, "I thought I'd give it a crack..." What was your reason
for testing?

Signature

Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

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John Nice - 29 Dec 2007 15:52 GMT

>> This morning, when making a quick visit to Microsoft Update (don't
>> seem to have seen any for a couple of weeks) I was informed I had
[quoted text clipped - 25 lines]
> tell the story of, "I thought I'd give it a crack..." What was your
> reason for testing?

Feeling bored after Christmas, I guess ;-)

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Gerry - 29 Dec 2007 18:16 GMT

Shenan

As far as I am concerned it is a nuisance POP up! I am surprised at the
aggressive way it is being pushed. I did wonder whether it was by
Microsoft doing the pushing?

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Regards.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

>> This morning, when making a quick visit to Microsoft Update (don't
>> seem to have seen any for a couple of weeks) I was informed I had
[quoted text clipped - 28 lines]
> Shenan Stanley
> MS-MVP

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