Confirm? Beta2 code will stay as is until Jan 07, right?

[Jonathan]

All (especially Mr. Escapa, other MS-knowledgable folks):

I am considering starting the public beta as I want to learn the program
deeply just once (I have a little experience with ON2003) and I can deal with
most beta-related required behaviors (save a lot and into different file
formats, etc.)

but...

If as I read all our messages here I find one current beta2 difficulty that
would be a "deal-killer" at this point should I assume that the bug will not
be out of the code until general release in January 2007? This would be some
now-rocky function/feature that I really need badly for my elementary school
classroom management.

Is any refresh of the code made available to all as bugs get reported?
Thanks to all that make this list such good reading and help out with ideas
and sources.

Jonathan

 

[Chris H.]

Not an "MS folk" here, but yes. That is the current expiration period,
January, 2007. Keep in mind, this is only Beta 2, and normally there is (if
no Beta 3) a Release Candidate or two, during which time the expiration
period may be moved even further ahead, before the general retail release is
available.
--
Chris H.
Microsoft Windows MVP/Tablet PC
Tablet Creations - http://nicecreations.us/
Associate Expert
Expert Zone -

 

[Erik Sojka (MVP)]

If past beta programs are any indication, there will be another beta
release or two before the code goes "gold". These beta versions might be
called by alternate names like Release Candidate.

If there is a bug in B2, and that bug is fixed in one of these future
beta builds, you should be able to install those builds once they are
publicly available.

If the final release date stays the same (roughly EOY 2006 and/or January
2007) I would expect that future beta releases would not be extended
beyond that time by much if at all.

Hope this helps.

 

[Chris_Pratley \(MS\)]

We're planning a refresh of the beta 2 bits this summer, just as we did with
Office 2003. The refresh will also extend the deadline for deactivation
until well after the planned retail launch of the product.

Chris Pratley (MS)
OneNote blog: http://blogs.msdn.com/chris_pratley/

 

[Jonathan]

Chris,
Thanks for your information. (Can't get any better source... ) This means
that I can work with more confidence, especially if I can wait until the
summer refresh. We start school in late July, so I hope "summer" means before
then. After that it's hard to change anything major about the way I organize
the fifth grade. I would think that stepping up to the retail product isn't
worth delaying, once it's out.

Now if I just had WinXP computers in the class for the students I'd
experiment with student portfolios in OneNote. Win98 is the best we can do.
We'll get to WinXP about the time everyone goes to Vista...

Jonathan

 

[Chris_Pratley \(MS\)]

There's no need to wait really. The refresh will just update the beta 2 bits
you have and also move the date when it moves to reduced fucntionality.
Should be pretty transparent to you.

Chris Pratley (MS)
OneNote blog: http://blogs.msdn.com/chris_pratley/

 

[Chris_Pratley \(MS\)]

I should say that the refresh "may" move the date out. As it is Feb 2007 is
pretty far out from our final code target (October), so it should give you
plenty of time if you choose to upgrade.

Chris Pratley (MS)
OneNote blog: http://blogs.msdn.com/chris_pratley/