On 31/10/06 05:49, Basil Chupin wrote:
<snip> Here is what the wikipedia, in part, has to say about beta version: Basil, if you are relying on wikipedia as being definitive, I have some farmland to sell you -- about 350 km due east of Sydney :-)
QUOTE beta release (pronounced "beetah" or "bayta") usually represents the first version of a computer program that implements all features in the initial software requirements specification. It is likely to be unstable but useful for internal demonstrations and previews to select customers, but not yet ready for release. Some developers refer to this stage as a preview, as a technical preview (TP) or as an early access. UNQUOTE
It then goes on to say-
QUOTE When a beta becomes available to the general public it is often widely used by the technologically savvy and those familiar with previous versions as though it were the finished product. UNQUOTE And general availability of the 10.2 alphas does what to this statement? This statement naturally extends to "a beta is generally regarded by the techoids and the experienced user as a finished product".. note the subtle difference, "regarded to be finished" vs. "used as if it were finished". IMO, both views are ludicrous. A beta is there to be broken (ie. you're the end user, try it, break it, and let us know what bugs you find).
The first quote you cite is quite accurate, particularly the part that says "not yet ready for release". The second one is a world full of rose-coloured glasses.