That's right. Microshaft does not make a good example to follow for
smaller commercial software products. 2 big reasons come to mind.

They need to test their products on a massive number of varying hardware
and software environments and this is not practical or even possible
with in-house test beds.

To facilitate and speed up large end-user implementation and
modification efforts early release is needed so that these efforts can
take place concurrently with the later stages of the overall product
development.

Mark Drillock
22 years in the computer biz but I am done now

Jeffrey Schwaia wrote:
>
> In 20 years of software development, we almost always paid people to perform
> Beta testing.  Usually by offering overtime or comp time to employees.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Jeff
>

>
> You know, Alpha testing is when you hire someone to test it for you.  This
> is Ron's Beta test.
> Beta testing, by definition, is done by outside people.  I don't know of a
> single company that
> pays Beta testers.  I have been running the version of Microsoft Office that
> will be coming out
> around the end of the year for some time now.  Microsoft doesn't pay me to
> do that.  Why should
> Ron?
>
> Bill in the Southwest
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "George Goff" <THX0001@AOL.COM>
> >
> > Ron, my man, instead of expecting a free ride from the List, why don't you
> > just break down and hire someone who knows what they are doing?  Now, can
> I give
> > my 10 points to someone else?