Re: Beta anti spyware

From: IdentIT Inc (bkomar_at_nospam.identit.ca)
Date: 02/20/05 

Date: Sun, 20 Feb 2005 12:52:03 -0600

In article <620B36E6-5688-4C88-914C-B9C24E175E14@microsoft.com>,
Phillylawyer@discussions.microsoft.com says...
> I just went back and went through the entire download site again, including
> clicking on and reading every single link to additional information. As an
> attorney, I perform critical, close reading of documents on a daily basis and
> I'm good at it. As a matter of fact, the site in fact does not ever explain
> that this is a test program, does not specifically invite feedback from
> consumers, and in no way suggests that the software is anything other than a
> finished product similar to other free software often provided by Micorsoft
> to its users. (I know, I know, there's that "Beta" thing, but I discussed
> that in my previous message.) I now realise that since when I went back the
> second time (contrary to your implication, I had gone through it thoroughly
> before I downloaded the software) I had the inside info about the meaning of
> "Beta," I could pick up on the very few references in the literature that
> suggest not that there is some testing going on, but only that some
> additional "tweaking" is going on with the product. You can throw some more
> nasty comments about my failings and flaws in this whole episode if you wish,
> but I stand by my critique of Micorsoft's conduct in all of this.

I am sorry that you were unaware of the term "beta" software, but the
term has been in use by Microsoft for a very long time (I remember using
beta version of Windows NT 3.5).

The term is an industry recognized term, so I feel that your critique is
not really called for, due to your lack of knowledge of the term.

Would you at least agree that the term "beta" was evident in the dialogs
that you read, and that, if, you understood the term, you would be in
agreement that it was evident that the software was "beta" software?

Brian

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