Office 2003 beta gift

By ernicoats
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Argonaut

Posted
Posted

The world is gone mad.... microsoft charges fortunes over its products, and then people run happily offering them F R E E services..... what I find most amusing is that I see people that are actually proud of having voluntarily submited to this exploitation. IMHO working free for a charity is one thing, working free for a company, just plain stupidity.

my 2 cents....

Rising Star

mikey1001

Posted
Posted
The world is gone mad.... microsoft charges fortunes over its products, and then people run happily offering them F R E E  services.....  what I find most amusing is that I see people that are actually proud of having voluntarily submited to this exploitation.  IMHO working free for a charity is one thing, working free for a company, just plain stupidity.

my 2 cents....

Haha, you make a really good point. I remember saying that a couple of years ago to someone and I was looked upon like a madman :blink:

Can you imagine people walking into WalMart or some other mutli-billion dollar corporation and volunteer weeks at a time for them? Only at Microsoft, eh?

As for Liquid's response a few posts above this one, take a f*ckin' pill man, if you get that enraged over someone as trivial as this, you need professional help.

Rising Star

mikey1001

Posted
Posted
I just got a pachage from Microsoft...I wasn't a beta tester but I did attend a TechNet and got something rather generous from them today. Not one, not two, but three (full) programs. Thank You Mr. Gates!

I know what you mean, it is well worth your time to register for Technet events and others like it. I've not only received free software from attending, they ususally have draws at the end as well. I won a jacket and a I know of a guy that won a Pocket PC, just for listening to them talk about products you know a lot about already. If you're just looking for freebies, then drop out of the beta process and sign up for Microsoft events, you'll get a lot more that way.

Rising Star

incubusdaemon

Posted
Posted

I was a beta tester back when windows was called memphis (i.e Win98). We all got a copy of the product when it was released. In addition, since several of the testers had multiple computers running the beta in order to find more bugs and test more configurations, they complained to MS that getting a standard EULA would leave them with several un-updatable computers.

MS relented, and, in a move I still categorize as awesome, all of the testers got a unlimited install EULA. Yes, that's right, we were allow to install the full version on as many computers as we wanted, provided we owned all of them.

The top 1% of testers were made permanant testers and autoinvited into betas for future projects. I tested Windowsupdate in it's first iteration before I could no longer contribute significantly to the program and requested to be removed. I made the top 1% by writing about 10 meaningful posts to the NG and submitting 3 bugs (somehow my video card at the time worked at every resolution except 640x400x8, which happened to be the default resolution of C&C gold, and it had worked fine in win95. They never did fix the bug...)

Now, of course that beta was much smaller than the one for office2k3. I think there were about 10000 testers for win98, including the ones that were located internally at redmond. I think the office beta had 100k or possibly 1mil testers.

I agree with the newseditors. A lot of people are slackoff jacka**es who get the beta disks in the mail, install it, and then whine about not getting anything in return.

However, for those of you who do contribute (and are lucky/unlucky enough not to come across any bugs), I believe MS should offer you some sort of compensation. Granted, you agreed to do it for free. However, you are working for them, and compensation is one of the best ways to insure future participation, no?

On top of that, you've been accustomed to using Office 2k3 for several months, and now you either have to stay with the buggy version, or revert back to the less capable version, or pay $200. That, while it may be forcable by MS, doesn't seem like a nice way of saying thanks for the effort.

Conclusion? Make 2 groups of testers- the hardercore and willing to work type (which should also be the group in at beta 1), and the outer rim group, who are more likely to be participating just for the joy of saying you got to see office first. Now, you can get in the outer group easily, but will not get anything for you work. You can apply to the inner group, or submit several bugs and work your tail off in the outer group and get invited in.

That way, MS gets close contact with those who do the best job, and you are rewarded for you work.

-inc

Explorer

crazyturn2

Posted
Posted

I think Microsoft had an obligation to let its legit testers know this was the way it was going to happen with the gifts.

They've made many many testers here extremely unhappy, many of us have busted our buts and knowingly installed buggy software and builds with the risk of hosing our systems and all we get is a stupid radio?

Microsoft and their beta team for this should be ashamed of themselves.

Veteran

macf13nd

Posted
Posted
I was a beta tester back when windows was called memphis (i.e Win98). We all got a copy of the product when it was released. In addition, since several of the testers had multiple computers running the beta in order to find more bugs and test more configurations, they complained to MS that getting a standard EULA would leave them with several un-updatable computers.

MS relented, and, in a move I still categorize as awesome, all of the testers got a unlimited install EULA. Yes, that's right, we were allow to install the full version on as many computers as we wanted, provided we owned all of them.

The top 1% of testers were made permanant testers and autoinvited into betas for future projects. I tested Windowsupdate in it's first iteration before I could no longer contribute significantly to the program and requested to be removed. I made the top 1% by writing about 10 meaningful posts to the NG and submitting 3 bugs (somehow my video card at the time worked at every resolution except 640x400x8, which happened to be the default resolution of C&C gold, and it had worked fine in win95. They never did fix the bug...)

Now, of course that beta was much smaller than the one for office2k3. I think there were about 10000 testers for win98, including the ones that were located internally at redmond. I think the office beta had 100k or possibly 1mil testers.

I agree with the newseditors. A lot of people are slackoff jacka**es who get the beta disks in the mail, install it, and then whine about not getting anything in return.

However, for those of you who do contribute (and are lucky/unlucky enough not to come across any bugs), I believe MS should offer you some sort of compensation. Granted, you agreed to do it for free. However, you are working for them, and compensation is one of the best ways to insure future participation, no?

On top of that, you've been accustomed to using Office 2k3 for several months, and now you either have to stay with the buggy version, or revert back to the less capable version, or pay $200. That, while it may be forcable by MS, doesn't seem like a nice way of saying thanks for the effort.

Conclusion? Make 2 groups of testers- the hardercore and willing to work type (which should also be the group in at beta 1), and the outer rim group, who are more likely to be participating just for the joy of saying you got to see office first. Now, you can get in the outer group easily, but will not get anything for you work. You can apply to the inner group, or submit several bugs and work your tail off in the outer group and get invited in.

That way, MS gets close contact with those who do the best job, and you are rewarded for you work.

-inc

phew!! good point tho... maybe as an uber tester you should recommend this to m$.... :)

Contributor

DrWatson

Posted
Posted
Congrats to everyone who received their gifts!(Y)Y), I doubt I'll be in the top 60 testers even though I did post bugs most of the time - so I'm not really bothered about getting a gift, though a certificate would be nic:):) ....

Radish?

Hi Radish!

I'm here in Australia and have yet to receive my reward, but if and when it comes I'll be grateful. I probably posted about 50 bugs in total that weren't duplicates, but what makes me really excited is that a few of the suggestions I made actually made it into the final product. Proud as could be(Y) (Y)

Contributor

DrWatson

Posted
Posted
Mine make the fire hotter Love watching it melt, Next will be the worthless cds

Hi cannhawk

Did you log quality bugs that could be duplicated?

Did you participate in the Newsgroups?

Did you fill out the surveys?

I'm not here to judge or anything, just wanted to gage how much work you did on the project to earn your reward. :blush:

Grand Master

RadishTM Veteran

Posted
  • Veteran
Posted
Hi Radish!

I'm here in Australia and have yet to receive my reward, but if and when it comes I'll be grateful. I probably posted about 50 bugs in total that weren't duplicates, but what makes me really excited is that a few of the suggestions I made actually made it into the final product. Proud as could be! (Y)

Yep, it's a good feeling when you fixed a bug in a huge beta program :) ....

Radish?

Explorer

crazyturn2

Posted
Posted
I think since you all volunteered to be part of the beta testing you should stop crying. If you were not happy with the gift you got either work more with the next beta you are in, or stop testing Microsoft's products.

Volunteering to do this testing means opening up your system to possible damage by their beta software. They shot themselves in the foot with this. I stated from the beginning with this beta and submitted more than my share of bugs, many which had several weeks of feedback between myself and support.

I hope someone from MS reads this and see's how many unhappy testers they have upset over this choice in 'thank you's ' for testing their product.

I guess expecting a full copy of the software is asking too much when it costs them pennies to mass produce a cd for millions of people.

Proficient

cannhawk

Posted
Posted
Hi cannhawk

Did you log quality bugs that could be duplicated?

Did you participate in the Newsgroups?

Did you fill out the surveys?

I'm not here to judge or anything, just wanted to gage how much work you did on the project to earn your reward.  :blush:

I found many bugs that could be duplicated & many where show stoppers, I fill out all the surveys plus homework, Checking the newsgroups seeing what others found and testing it on my system & posting bugs in the newsgroups. I spend very long nights trying to find more bugs. lot of sleepless nights and because of it I lost my jop. I'm I bitter at what I got you bet I am.

Contributor

DrWatson

Posted
Posted
I found many bugs that could be duplicated & many where show stoppers, I fill out all the surveys plus homework, Checking the newsgroups seeing what others found and testing it on my system & posting bugs in the newsgroups. I spend very long nights trying to find more bugs. lot of sleepless nights and because of it I lost my jop. I'm I bitter at what I got you bet I am.

:o :( Maybe there was some sort of mistake.. I really wouldn't know. But I hope you don't give up on Beta Testing.

Proficient

GeeZuZz

Posted
Posted

This is the funniest thread ever. People are mad, after getting free software, and a free radio. :laugh:

Noone said you would get anything when you signed up...

I'm impressed that MS sent the beta kits all the way from United States to Norway for free... And even more impressed if I get a free radio. I didn't know i got anything when i signed up. I didn't even know that they would use beta testers from outside USA.

BTW, the earpiece for the radio - has it got a normal sized jack (similar to MP3/CD-players), or one size smaller jack? And is the radio stereo?

Where do you sign up for testing of Longhorn?

Proficient

cannhawk

Posted
Posted

I'm always beta testing for MS most of it is with OS group, Like I said before I been doing it since 97. I'm one of the top bug finder in th OS groups. I'm not pi55 at MS I will always help them @ this time I'm on four betas but I don't like the way the office beta team handle this beta. I know there are many thet fell the way I do 6000+ tech beta tester and only 60 made to cut to get the full package. Dose not sound right but for now I fell very bitter. Sorry for some of my posting but that is how I see it. I know lot of them wish I would just go away. From windows 98 thu XP SP1 I'm one of the top 2000 tester with the most bug reported. I will use office 2003 beta 2 refresh till it time out in Jan 2004. Then I will make up my mind if I it office xp or open office. I use both office programs

Proficient

XChrome

Posted
Posted

I not only tested at home but at work. I used programs has much has possible. I even found a way to use the Visio that came in the last package. I used to make rank and promotion charts for a game, LOL. That is how I do things if I never used something I find a way. I even used One Note to collaborate on the ranking chart with my other guild members then took the One Notes and made them into Visio Charts. This was not even required but I did it.

Only giving 60 out of what a 1000? testers copies is not fair. If there was a super pack that included FrontPage 2003 and Visio 2003 I could understand but to not include those of us who did actually test but for what ever reasons did not turn in enough to be ranked in the top 60 is BS.

I mean not even a special Betaplace purchase area where we can buy for a great discount? I work retail and they have a purchase site which still does not have Office 2003. They still have Office XP for $116 US. I would be more than happy if they gave "Super Packs" to the let's say top 50 and Professional+Frontpage to 51-150 and Professional to 151-300, with 301 through 500 getting standard. They could even give the Upgrade versions to all those they know who got a copy last time. I mean if you do not need a full version then you should not get one. Has stated above there should be a Beta Purchase Program part of beta site that gives all testers the ability to buy MS software at Discounts. I would say 50%-75% of the PUP price that retailers pay. For example Professional would be like $55 US. Leaving many of us out in the cold is just not good form or business.

To those that say they have already warezed or planned on it, shame on you. Just because MS does something that in "our" mind is wrong does not mean you break the law and the trust of MS.

I hope that next beta the manager of the program changes this, IMO, very bad decision.

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