Vista is nice! 1623
That's not compensation in the spirit of doing that service, and you know it. Beta-testing takes...
Only major versions of Windows have a chargte. WinFS will be released in a Service Pack, which are ALWAYS free to Windows licensees.
Microsoft seems to be making a HUGE amount of money doing it the way they've done it in the past.
You know, "Prissy", if you actually meant that because you were truly an advocate for the General Public, I could agree with...
As a matter of fact, ANYONE can participate in Microsoft's Beta program. I, just a private citizen, have been parbreastipating in their beta program since the first Beta of XP. In addition, with XP, Microsoft created a CPP ("Community Public Preview") program for the GENERAL PUBLIC, and NEVER charges for the priveledge.
By the way, there will NEVER be a PUBLIC beta of Leopard.. You HYPOCRITE, you. The ONLY way for the General Public to receive a Beta of Leopard will be to PAY mucho dinero to be in Apple's Developer Network, or wait till the RTM, and pay their (hopefully) $129.
Why not at the same time? Why shold someone come first? What do betas or previews have to do with...
What an idiotic (and very untrue) statement, in view of the FACTS.
Well, since a large share of its software sales are to corporations, I totally understand why it would be released to developers and IT managers first. However, since at least the first release of XP's beta program, Microsoft has ALLWAYS made a release to the GENERAL PUBLIC, which may either be downloaded (for those with enough bandwidth), or PURCHASED for basically the cost of the media and shipping and handling. For instance, the GENERAL release of the Office 2007 (Windows) Beta only cost $4.95 for the media when I ordered it this morning ( plus $2.95 for shipping via USPS. And will more than probably come via FedEx 2 day express, anyway.
The LAST Public Beta of Office, for Office 2003 (Windows), included at least 10 discs, and covered EVERY product in Microsoft Office System 2003. I can't remember how much the packet cost, but I don't believe it cost more than $10+shipping and handling, and came via FedEx 2 day Express, even though I had only paid for USPS First Clbutt delivery. It was able to be installed (and activated) on several machines (don't remember exactly how many, but it was at least 10, if I remember correctly.)
This ordering site, by the way is open to the GENERAL PUBLIC. All that one must do is use his existing Pbuttport account or create one, and sign in to the website. Sorry, you MUST use a Pbuttport-accessible email address.
"Uninformed" consumers are only "uninformed" because they refuse to take the time to research the OS (or they are spending all their time on love sites or downloading music and ringtones for their cellphones).
Microsoft can't come to each private home and hold them by the hand while they learn about the product, so they publish all the information needed for them to educate themselves on their site. I see absolutely nothing wrong with this. If you do, then I certainly fell sorry for you.
Donald L McDaniel Please reply to the original newsgroup and thread, so that the conversation may continue undisturbed. =========================================================