Office 2003 Beta Gift

[Bob]

To the beta team at Microsoft,
As an technical beta tester for the Office 2003 office
suite. I am outraged at the free gift most of us technical
beta testers received. It's a slap in the face for all of
our hard work. As a beta tester, I busted my ass for
months, like a lot of others did, finding bugs in Office
2003 , filling out surveys, doing my homework,
participating in newsgroups, and learning how to use the
Office 2003 system to the fullest, while holding a full
time job. Hoping that if I did the best I could, your
multi-million dollar company would do, as you did in the
past, with previous Office and Windows betas, give all
technical beta testers, a free copy of the final product
for all of our hard work. No!, what did most of us get!.
Only a $2.00 clip radio that was made in China and a
sticker. I could have bought something like that at the
dollar store back here at home. This simply proves to me
that your company has no respect at all for the hard work
(free labor), that goes into a product that only your
company will ever profit from. And yes Microsoft can afford
to give us beta testers a free copy of Office 2003
Professional (Full Version). You are not a small company
just trying to make it in the computer industry. If you
were I could understand. But you are NOT!. You are a
multi-million dollar company, owned by the richest man in
the world. People who go to your Windows and Office launch
events usually get to take the full product of the launch
event home for free. Even people who I spoke with that
work for Comp USA and BestBuy, who have gone to your launch
events got "free full version copies of your products".
Given out by Microsoft. And most of them have never even
beta tested your products. But not us beta testers. I
personally cannot afford the cost of your Office suite. And
no I do not have a qualifying upgradeable product for the
upgrade version. I have no choice now, but to look for
alternatives like OpenOffice 1.1, or Star Office 7. Since
the initial cost of Office 2003 Professional (Full
Version), is beyond my reach. And since you only reward
your top 60 beta testers, which are probably Microsoft
employees, and not all of your beta testers, with the full
version retail copy of Office 2003 Professional. I suggest
that you keep all further beta testing of your products, in
house at Redmond, by the employees you pay. If you don't
plan on giving every beta testers, the final product for
which we help find bugs, and participate in the development
of. Free help for little if anything at all. You have
disappointed allot of us. Because of your inability to give
a piece of software, that cost little if anything to
produce. meaning a boxed copy of Office 2003 Professional
(Full Version). For which we helped you produce. A gift
that I was really looking forward to for my Windows XP Home
Edition system. I'm now looking into open source
alternatives to my Windows software. Including Linux.
Linux and open source looks way more rewarding for people
like myself and others. Because at least with open source
alternatives you get the final product for which you help
beta test as well as many other reasons I will not get into
now.. People who develop low cost and free quality
professional software from the kindness of their heart.
Star Office 7, and Cinepaint for example. Even Apple's
beta testers get the final products they beta test. And
thanks to your ridiculous pricing and paranoid licensing
scheme I will never own a Microsoft Professional Office
Suite, like I would have liked to. And no Microsoft Works
to me is not a professional office suite . Office 2003
Professional is!.
From a very disappointed beta tester,
Robert Kovacs
(Beta ID Number # 506815)

 

[Mike Williams [MVP]]

To the beta team at Microsoft,

The beta team at Microsoft is not on these newsgroups. You would be best to
address betas to the names and addresses on your personal beta
correspondence.

Personally, as someone who has beta tested products for many companies over
the last few decades and never expected anything in return but a better
product, I am disgusted at the attitude of so many people this year.


Mike Williams - Office MVP http://www.mvps.org/faq/
If something doesn't make sense, it could be worse e.g.
http://www.rathergood.com/moon_song/

Please respond in the same thread on this newsgroup - not by email!
Include details of your application and Windows versions, plus any
service pack updates. Answers may also be found by reading recent
posts, checking the FAQs or searching the relevant Google archive at.
http://groups.google.com/groups?group=microsoft.public

 

[Jeff Bunger]

What people are you talking about?

----- Original Message -----
From: "Mike Williams [MVP]" <mikew@[removeme]mvps.org[removemetoo]>
Newsgroups: microsoft.public.office.misc
Sent: Sunday, November 30, 2003 10:26 PM
Subject: Re: Office 2003 Beta Gift

 

[Bob]

I'm disgusted at the fact that Microsoft gives out so much
full version software at those conventions and launch
events, but are unable give out copies of the same software
to the beta testers, who helped with the testing of the
product.

 

[Mr. X.]

I was also in the beta and got a full copy...

 

[Timothy A. Roy]

ya by purchasing it

 

[IGotMine]

I attended the Detroit launch and recieved a full version
of office 2003 professional and One Note, a $700.00 retail
value. Plus the kind folks at microsoft fed us a great
lunch and snacks all day.

 

[2003]

I hope they give the team those radios for this years Christmas bonus.
;-)

 

[Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]]

From your beta ID, I will assume that you are a recent addition to the
Microsoft beta testers.

So, I have a couple of questions for you... why did you sign up for beta
testing? And do you know what the meaning of a gift is?


--
Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]

Post all replies to the group to keep the discussion intact. Due to the
Swen virus, all e-mails sent to my actual account will be deleted w/out
reading.

After searching google.groups.com and finding no answer
Bob <[email protected]> asked:

| To the beta team at Microsoft,
| As an technical beta tester for the Office 2003 office
| suite. I am outraged at the free gift most of us technical
| beta testers received. It's a slap in the face for all of
| our hard work. As a beta tester, I busted my ass for
| months, like a lot of others did, finding bugs in Office
| 2003 , filling out surveys, doing my homework,
| participating in newsgroups, and learning how to use the
| Office 2003 system to the fullest, while holding a full
| time job. Hoping that if I did the best I could, your
| multi-million dollar company would do, as you did in the
| past, with previous Office and Windows betas, give all
| technical beta testers, a free copy of the final product
| for all of our hard work. No!, what did most of us get!.
| Only a $2.00 clip radio that was made in China and a
| sticker. I could have bought something like that at the
| dollar store back here at home. This simply proves to me
| that your company has no respect at all for the hard work
| (free labor), that goes into a product that only your
| company will ever profit from. And yes Microsoft can afford
| to give us beta testers a free copy of Office 2003
| Professional (Full Version). You are not a small company
| just trying to make it in the computer industry. If you
| were I could understand. But you are NOT!. You are a
| multi-million dollar company, owned by the richest man in
| the world. People who go to your Windows and Office launch
| events usually get to take the full product of the launch
| event home for free. Even people who I spoke with that
| work for Comp USA and BestBuy, who have gone to your launch
| events got "free full version copies of your products".
| Given out by Microsoft. And most of them have never even
| beta tested your products. But not us beta testers. I
| personally cannot afford the cost of your Office suite. And
| no I do not have a qualifying upgradeable product for the
| upgrade version. I have no choice now, but to look for
| alternatives like OpenOffice 1.1, or Star Office 7. Since
| the initial cost of Office 2003 Professional (Full
| Version), is beyond my reach. And since you only reward
| your top 60 beta testers, which are probably Microsoft
| employees, and not all of your beta testers, with the full
| version retail copy of Office 2003 Professional. I suggest
| that you keep all further beta testing of your products, in
| house at Redmond, by the employees you pay. If you don't
| plan on giving every beta testers, the final product for
| which we help find bugs, and participate in the development
| of. Free help for little if anything at all. You have
| disappointed allot of us. Because of your inability to give
| a piece of software, that cost little if anything to
| produce. meaning a boxed copy of Office 2003 Professional
| (Full Version). For which we helped you produce. A gift
| that I was really looking forward to for my Windows XP Home
| Edition system. I'm now looking into open source
| alternatives to my Windows software. Including Linux.
| Linux and open source looks way more rewarding for people
| like myself and others. Because at least with open source
| alternatives you get the final product for which you help
| beta test as well as many other reasons I will not get into
| now.. People who develop low cost and free quality
| professional software from the kindness of their heart.
| Star Office 7, and Cinepaint for example. Even Apple's
| beta testers get the final products they beta test. And
| thanks to your ridiculous pricing and paranoid licensing
| scheme I will never own a Microsoft Professional Office
| Suite, like I would have liked to. And no Microsoft Works
| to me is not a professional office suite . Office 2003
| Professional is!.
| From a very disappointed beta tester,
| Robert Kovacs
| (Beta ID Number # 506815)

 

[Timothy A. Roy]

Milly give it up. Noone cares about your beta testing values. Must you
reply to everyone's post? People are entitled to their opinions. I don't
think Microsoft will be insulted or cry over someone's dislike over a $2
radio.

-Tim
325494

From your beta ID, I will assume that you are a recent addition to the
Microsoft beta testers.

So, I have a couple of questions for you... why did you sign up for beta
testing? And do you know what the meaning of a gift is?


--
Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]

Post all replies to the group to keep the discussion intact. Due to the
Swen virus, all e-mails sent to my actual account will be deleted w/out
reading.

After searching google.groups.com and finding no answer
Bob <[email protected]> asked:

| To the beta team at Microsoft,
| As an technical beta tester for the Office 2003 office
| suite. I am outraged at the free gift most of us technical
| beta testers received. It's a slap in the face for all of
| our hard work. As a beta tester, I busted my ass for
| months, like a lot of others did, finding bugs in Office
| 2003 , filling out surveys, doing my homework,
| participating in newsgroups, and learning how to use the
| Office 2003 system to the fullest, while holding a full
| time job. Hoping that if I did the best I could, your
| multi-million dollar company would do, as you did in the
| past, with previous Office and Windows betas, give all
| technical beta testers, a free copy of the final product
| for all of our hard work. No!, what did most of us get!.
| Only a $2.00 clip radio that was made in China and a
| sticker. I could have bought something like that at the
| dollar store back here at home. This simply proves to me
| that your company has no respect at all for the hard work
| (free labor), that goes into a product that only your
| company will ever profit from. And yes Microsoft can afford
| to give us beta testers a free copy of Office 2003
| Professional (Full Version). You are not a small company
| just trying to make it in the computer industry. If you
| were I could understand. But you are NOT!. You are a
| multi-million dollar company, owned by the richest man in
| the world. People who go to your Windows and Office launch
| events usually get to take the full product of the launch
| event home for free. Even people who I spoke with that
| work for Comp USA and BestBuy, who have gone to your launch
| events got "free full version copies of your products".
| Given out by Microsoft. And most of them have never even
| beta tested your products. But not us beta testers. I
| personally cannot afford the cost of your Office suite. And
| no I do not have a qualifying upgradeable product for the
| upgrade version. I have no choice now, but to look for
| alternatives like OpenOffice 1.1, or Star Office 7. Since
| the initial cost of Office 2003 Professional (Full
| Version), is beyond my reach. And since you only reward
| your top 60 beta testers, which are probably Microsoft
| employees, and not all of your beta testers, with the full
| version retail copy of Office 2003 Professional. I suggest
| that you keep all further beta testing of your products, in
| house at Redmond, by the employees you pay. If you don't
| plan on giving every beta testers, the final product for
| which we help find bugs, and participate in the development
| of. Free help for little if anything at all. You have
| disappointed allot of us. Because of your inability to give
| a piece of software, that cost little if anything to
| produce. meaning a boxed copy of Office 2003 Professional
| (Full Version). For which we helped you produce. A gift
| that I was really looking forward to for my Windows XP Home
| Edition system. I'm now looking into open source
| alternatives to my Windows software. Including Linux.
| Linux and open source looks way more rewarding for people
| like myself and others. Because at least with open source
| alternatives you get the final product for which you help
| beta test as well as many other reasons I will not get into
| now.. People who develop low cost and free quality
| professional software from the kindness of their heart.
| Star Office 7, and Cinepaint for example. Even Apple's
| beta testers get the final products they beta test. And
| thanks to your ridiculous pricing and paranoid licensing
| scheme I will never own a Microsoft Professional Office
| Suite, like I would have liked to. And no Microsoft Works
| to me is not a professional office suite . Office 2003
| Professional is!.
| From a very disappointed beta tester,
| Robert Kovacs
| (Beta ID Number # 506815)

 

[Bob Travis]

The beta team at Microsoft is not on these newsgroups. You would be best to
address betas to the names and addresses on your personal beta
correspondence.

Personally, as someone who has beta tested products for many companies over
the last few decades and never expected anything in return but a better
product, I am disgusted at the attitude of so many people this year.

Mike,

I wouldn't be disgusted. Some people have been on the beta team for
years. I have been on the beta team for over five years and when I
signed up I didn't even know it was the custom to get a free copy when
the beta ended. I just wanted to beta test. Over the years and more
than a dozen betas later I saw that MS sent all the beta testers a
free copy at the end of every beta whether they were active testers or
not. It was widely circulated in the beta newsgroups that one should
never "expect" the RTM, but it always seemed to show up.

This time it didn't show up. Many thoughts went through my head. Are
they expecting a poor seller? Did they take on too many beta testers
this time? Was it a mistake to offer a dividend and extra "profits"
had to come from somewhere so why not pinch the beta testers? The
typical beta tester seems to be thought of like a child by MS in so
far as the attitude seems to be "yours is not to question why, yours
is but to test or fly." At least that is the opinion I have now.

Last night, before I even decided to check the newsgroups to see if
all of the broken spirited beta testers who didn't get the RTM were
happy with their Chinese radios, I typed a few paragraphs to weigh out
my thoughts. Here is what I wrote:

===== ===== =====

The question of brand loyalty will now come into play with Microsoft
turning its back on long-term beta testers who were loyal to Microsoft
through thick and thin over the years.

As a group many beta testers are opening their eyes to the fact there
is a world of great software out there which they hadn't noticed
because they had only been loyal to Microsoft until now.

At first, when I saw the cheap "made in China" radio Microsoft gave to
most of the current crop of Office 2003 beta testers I felt like they
kicked sand in my face.

Now only a few days have past and I no longer feel like they took
advantage of my time and talents. Instead I feel unshackled and free
to dabble again. Thoughts race through my mind: GNU, Linux, Lindows,
Open source, etcetera and I want to try it all. Thunderbird, Firebird,
Mozilla, Avant, Opera, and so much more.

Maybe a knowledge of the competition will help improve my Microsoft
beta testing talents. On the other hand maybe I'll find something I
like better. In any case Microsoft handed me a lemon and instead of
being sour about it I think I will whip up some lemonade.

===== ===== =====

As you can see I want to continue being a beta tester. I have won a
lot of prizes for being a top tester. Now just one year where I'm
having a bad year and I don't have time to test quite as much --- but
I still report bugs and I still post to the newsgroups, and I am still
testing many MS products besides Office, and then this happens.

Who are you to be disgusted with me? I have been a good tester for
years and I have the tee shirts to prove it. I bet if you were in my
shoes and have been testing as long as me, and had gotten used to the
RTMs, you would feel the same as me. Of course I have no legal right
to the RTM, it is just something I have some to expect and I think it
made good business sense for MS as well. We were gung ho cheerleaders
whether we bought the product or not, and when we were able to use it
ongoing after a beta our cheers were a whole lot more spirited as
well.

Go figure, eh?

Bob

 

[Mr. X.]

Nop. I got it for free
----- Timothy A. Roy wrote: -----

ya by purchasing it

 

[Nils van den Beemt]

I would add two points.

First, the radio was only worth $1.50

I don't think Microsoft will be insulted or cry over someone's dislike over a $2
radio.

-Tim
325494

Second: I too, was disappointed. Among the products I tested was FrontPage.
I own two earlier versions, but I worked my site with the 2003 beta. Now I
find that the previous version doesn't properly load the pages built with FP
2003. I'll have to buy 2003. I know it's a risk I took. But if I had been
fairly certain at the start that participation in the beta would cost ME
$100 I would have stayed away from the test.

The facts are that beta testing has a significant cost, risk, and
consequence to the testers. We know that going in, but perhaps it's time to
establish criteria for testers, and if they're met, you earn a copy of the
finished product.

The notion that it's "impolite" to expect a copy of the finished product is
a little disingenuous. Not all testers would assert that beta testing is a
selfless act done purely for recreation, and if MS had said at the start of
the beta that the "gift" was going to be what it turned out to be, I think
it's fair to say the beta ranks would have thinned considerably.

Unless Microsoft's handling of beta recruiting changes, I'll probably pass
on the next one. I know they won't miss me, but I'll miss the opportunity to
participate. I just cannot afford to give away that much time and effort.

Nils van den Beemt
321193

From your beta ID, I will assume that you are a recent addition to the
Microsoft beta testers.

So, I have a couple of questions for you... why did you sign up for beta
testing? And do you know what the meaning of a gift is?


--
Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]

Post all replies to the group to keep the discussion intact. Due to the
Swen virus, all e-mails sent to my actual account will be deleted w/out
reading.

After searching google.groups.com and finding no answer
Bob <[email protected]> asked:

| To the beta team at Microsoft,
| As an technical beta tester for the Office 2003 office
| suite. I am outraged at the free gift most of us technical
| beta testers received. It's a slap in the face for all of
| our hard work. As a beta tester, I busted my ass for
| months, like a lot of others did, finding bugs in Office
| 2003 , filling out surveys, doing my homework,
| participating in newsgroups, and learning how to use the
| Office 2003 system to the fullest, while holding a full
| time job. Hoping that if I did the best I could, your
| multi-million dollar company would do, as you did in the
| past, with previous Office and Windows betas, give all
| technical beta testers, a free copy of the final product
| for all of our hard work. No!, what did most of us get!.
| Only a $2.00 clip radio that was made in China and a
| sticker. I could have bought something like that at the
| dollar store back here at home. This simply proves to me
| that your company has no respect at all for the hard work
| (free labor), that goes into a product that only your
| company will ever profit from. And yes Microsoft can afford
| to give us beta testers a free copy of Office 2003
| Professional (Full Version). You are not a small company
| just trying to make it in the computer industry. If you
| were I could understand. But you are NOT!. You are a
| multi-million dollar company, owned by the richest man in
| the world. People who go to your Windows and Office launch
| events usually get to take the full product of the launch
| event home for free. Even people who I spoke with that
| work for Comp USA and BestBuy, who have gone to your launch
| events got "free full version copies of your products".
| Given out by Microsoft. And most of them have never even
| beta tested your products. But not us beta testers. I
| personally cannot afford the cost of your Office suite. And
| no I do not have a qualifying upgradeable product for the
| upgrade version. I have no choice now, but to look for
| alternatives like OpenOffice 1.1, or Star Office 7. Since
| the initial cost of Office 2003 Professional (Full
| Version), is beyond my reach. And since you only reward
| your top 60 beta testers, which are probably Microsoft
| employees, and not all of your beta testers, with the full
| version retail copy of Office 2003 Professional. I suggest
| that you keep all further beta testing of your products, in
| house at Redmond, by the employees you pay. If you don't
| plan on giving every beta testers, the final product for
| which we help find bugs, and participate in the development
| of. Free help for little if anything at all. You have
| disappointed allot of us. Because of your inability to give
| a piece of software, that cost little if anything to
| produce. meaning a boxed copy of Office 2003 Professional
| (Full Version). For which we helped you produce. A gift
| that I was really looking forward to for my Windows XP Home
| Edition system. I'm now looking into open source
| alternatives to my Windows software. Including Linux.
| Linux and open source looks way more rewarding for people
| like myself and others. Because at least with open source
| alternatives you get the final product for which you help
| beta test as well as many other reasons I will not get into
| now.. People who develop low cost and free quality
| professional software from the kindness of their heart.
| Star Office 7, and Cinepaint for example. Even Apple's
| beta testers get the final products they beta test. And
| thanks to your ridiculous pricing and paranoid licensing
| scheme I will never own a Microsoft Professional Office
| Suite, like I would have liked to. And no Microsoft Works
| to me is not a professional office suite . Office 2003
| Professional is!.
| From a very disappointed beta tester,
| Robert Kovacs
| (Beta ID Number # 506815)

 

[Bob Travis]

Nils, I can relate with what you are saying, especially when you consider
many beta testers cannot afford to buy a $300 to $1,000 program (depending
on whether you want the add-ons like Visio and InfoPath. If you consider
many beta testers would NOT buy it it seems like MS losses would be
minimal --- probably paying more for the postage than the packaging and the
two cents worth of plastic.

In exchange MS loses some of the best advertising they have, gung ho
cheerleaders who can not only talk about the program, they can use it as
well. The thing that gets my goat the most is that I could have gotten a
free copy of Office Pro as well as OneNote if I had just gone to the launch
and filled in a survey. One survey. Beta testers filled in lots of surveys
and did lots of installs and we get nothing. How could the beta team not
realize how they treated us???? I am so peeved I did not go to the launch
ONLY because I don't drive and my handicapped wife would have had to kick
around Nashville all day by herself. Being that I was sure all beta testers
who had been with MS since Windows 98 and Office 2000 would get a copy (as
usual) I didn't want to have my wife wander around Nashville alone all day
just because I was so greedy I wanted two copies. Sure I would get the beta
testers copy I decided to forgo the launch copy.

I have certainly learned my lesson. From now on the heck with the testing, I
am just going to go to the launches. Why do all that work when the beta team
will just kick sand in my face and all I will get is a cheap chinese radio
that I will end up giving away to a neighbor's son because I am too ashamed
to admit that is all I got for nine months of beta testing when someone who
attended the launch got free copies just for filling out a ten minute
survey. The only difference is they knew what their gift would be in advance
and the beta team just left us guessing and then low rented it as cheaply as
they could, probably opting for a lavish office party (no pun intended)
rather than thanking the beta testers in the way we have come to expect to
be thanked. I conceed it wasn't in writing, but in common law that which has
been in practice for enough years to have become expected is very close to
being law.

I guess I am just having a harder time time many admitting they screwed me.
I want to stress it is not the software and not the value of the software.
It is the principle. Is this a principle MS wants us to carry out into the
world with us and paractice as office as possible?

Bob

I would add two points.

First, the radio was only worth $1.50

I don't think Microsoft will be insulted or cry over someone's dislike over a $2
radio.

-Tim
325494

Second: I too, was disappointed. Among the products I tested was FrontPage.
I own two earlier versions, but I worked my site with the 2003 beta. Now I
find that the previous version doesn't properly load the pages built with FP
2003. I'll have to buy 2003. I know it's a risk I took. But if I had been
fairly certain at the start that participation in the beta would cost ME
$100 I would have stayed away from the test.

The facts are that beta testing has a significant cost, risk, and
consequence to the testers. We know that going in, but perhaps it's time to
establish criteria for testers, and if they're met, you earn a copy of the
finished product.

The notion that it's "impolite" to expect a copy of the finished product is
a little disingenuous. Not all testers would assert that beta testing is a
selfless act done purely for recreation, and if MS had said at the start of
the beta that the "gift" was going to be what it turned out to be, I think
it's fair to say the beta ranks would have thinned considerably.

Unless Microsoft's handling of beta recruiting changes, I'll probably pass
on the next one. I know they won't miss me, but I'll miss the opportunity to
participate. I just cannot afford to give away that much time and effort.

Nils van den Beemt
321193

From your beta ID, I will assume that you are a recent addition to the
Microsoft beta testers.

So, I have a couple of questions for you... why did you sign up for beta
testing? And do you know what the meaning of a gift is?


--
Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]

Post all replies to the group to keep the discussion intact. Due to the
Swen virus, all e-mails sent to my actual account will be deleted w/out
reading.

After searching google.groups.com and finding no answer
Bob <[email protected]> asked:

| To the beta team at Microsoft,
| As an technical beta tester for the Office 2003 office
| suite. I am outraged at the free gift most of us technical
| beta testers received. It's a slap in the face for all of
| our hard work. As a beta tester, I busted my ass for
| months, like a lot of others did, finding bugs in Office
| 2003 , filling out surveys, doing my homework,
| participating in newsgroups, and learning how to use the
| Office 2003 system to the fullest, while holding a full
| time job. Hoping that if I did the best I could, your
| multi-million dollar company would do, as you did in the
| past, with previous Office and Windows betas, give all
| technical beta testers, a free copy of the final product
| for all of our hard work. No!, what did most of us get!.
| Only a $2.00 clip radio that was made in China and a
| sticker. I could have bought something like that at the
| dollar store back here at home. This simply proves to me
| that your company has no respect at all for the hard work
| (free labor), that goes into a product that only your
| company will ever profit from. And yes Microsoft can afford
| to give us beta testers a free copy of Office 2003
| Professional (Full Version). You are not a small company
| just trying to make it in the computer industry. If you
| were I could understand. But you are NOT!. You are a
| multi-million dollar company, owned by the richest man in
| the world. People who go to your Windows and Office launch
| events usually get to take the full product of the launch
| event home for free. Even people who I spoke with that
| work for Comp USA and BestBuy, who have gone to your launch
| events got "free full version copies of your products".
| Given out by Microsoft. And most of them have never even
| beta tested your products. But not us beta testers. I
| personally cannot afford the cost of your Office suite. And
| no I do not have a qualifying upgradeable product for the
| upgrade version. I have no choice now, but to look for
| alternatives like OpenOffice 1.1, or Star Office 7. Since
| the initial cost of Office 2003 Professional (Full
| Version), is beyond my reach. And since you only reward
| your top 60 beta testers, which are probably Microsoft
| employees, and not all of your beta testers, with the full
| version retail copy of Office 2003 Professional. I suggest
| that you keep all further beta testing of your products, in
| house at Redmond, by the employees you pay. If you don't
| plan on giving every beta testers, the final product for
| which we help find bugs, and participate in the development
| of. Free help for little if anything at all. You have
| disappointed allot of us. Because of your inability to give
| a piece of software, that cost little if anything to
| produce. meaning a boxed copy of Office 2003 Professional
| (Full Version). For which we helped you produce. A gift
| that I was really looking forward to for my Windows XP Home
| Edition system. I'm now looking into open source
| alternatives to my Windows software. Including Linux.
| Linux and open source looks way more rewarding for people
| like myself and others. Because at least with open source
| alternatives you get the final product for which you help
| beta test as well as many other reasons I will not get into
| now.. People who develop low cost and free quality
| professional software from the kindness of their heart.
| Star Office 7, and Cinepaint for example. Even Apple's
| beta testers get the final products they beta test. And
| thanks to your ridiculous pricing and paranoid licensing
| scheme I will never own a Microsoft Professional Office
| Suite, like I would have liked to. And no Microsoft Works
| to me is not a professional office suite . Office 2003
| Professional is!.
| From a very disappointed beta tester,
| Robert Kovacs
| (Beta ID Number # 506815)

 

[Colonel Blip]

Well put!

 

[Bob Travis]

Thanks Colonel!

The only way I could ever forgive them iis if they own up to their mistake
and send all the beta testers a free copy in time for Christmas. In the
future they should let us know in advance if we are to be judged on the
quality of our works. Even the Bible has the decency to extend us THAT much
credit (and foresight).

Bob

 

[Nils van den Beemt]

Bob:

Good points; the Launch copy issue is especially galling.

Oh well. It was fun participating, but it was work, too. I'll stick with
work I get paid for...

Nils

Nils, I can relate with what you are saying, especially when you consider
many beta testers cannot afford to buy a $300 to $1,000 program (depending
on whether you want the add-ons like Visio and InfoPath. If you consider
many beta testers would NOT buy it it seems like MS losses would be
minimal --- probably paying more for the postage than the packaging and the
two cents worth of plastic.

In exchange MS loses some of the best advertising they have, gung ho
cheerleaders who can not only talk about the program, they can use it as
well. The thing that gets my goat the most is that I could have gotten a
free copy of Office Pro as well as OneNote if I had just gone to the launch
and filled in a survey. One survey. Beta testers filled in lots of surveys
and did lots of installs and we get nothing. How could the beta team not
realize how they treated us???? I am so peeved I did not go to the launch
ONLY because I don't drive and my handicapped wife would have had to kick
around Nashville all day by herself. Being that I was sure all beta testers
who had been with MS since Windows 98 and Office 2000 would get a copy (as
usual) I didn't want to have my wife wander around Nashville alone all day
just because I was so greedy I wanted two copies. Sure I would get the beta
testers copy I decided to forgo the launch copy.

I have certainly learned my lesson. From now on the heck with the testing, I
am just going to go to the launches. Why do all that work when the beta team
will just kick sand in my face and all I will get is a cheap chinese radio
that I will end up giving away to a neighbor's son because I am too ashamed
to admit that is all I got for nine months of beta testing when someone who
attended the launch got free copies just for filling out a ten minute
survey. The only difference is they knew what their gift would be in advance
and the beta team just left us guessing and then low rented it as cheaply as
they could, probably opting for a lavish office party (no pun intended)
rather than thanking the beta testers in the way we have come to expect to
be thanked. I conceed it wasn't in writing, but in common law that which has
been in practice for enough years to have become expected is very close to
being law.

I guess I am just having a harder time time many admitting they screwed me.
I want to stress it is not the software and not the value of the software.
It is the principle. Is this a principle MS wants us to carry out into the
world with us and paractice as office as possible?

Bob

I would add two points.

First, the radio was only worth $1.50


Second: I too, was disappointed. Among the products I tested was FrontPage.
I own two earlier versions, but I worked my site with the 2003 beta. Now I
find that the previous version doesn't properly load the pages built

with

FP
2003. I'll have to buy 2003. I know it's a risk I took. But if I had been
fairly certain at the start that participation in the beta would cost ME
$100 I would have stayed away from the test.

The facts are that beta testing has a significant cost, risk, and
consequence to the testers. We know that going in, but perhaps it's time to
establish criteria for testers, and if they're met, you earn a copy of the
finished product.

The notion that it's "impolite" to expect a copy of the finished product is
a little disingenuous. Not all testers would assert that beta testing is a
selfless act done purely for recreation, and if MS had said at the start of
the beta that the "gift" was going to be what it turned out to be, I think
it's fair to say the beta ranks would have thinned considerably.

Unless Microsoft's handling of beta recruiting changes, I'll probably pass
on the next one. I know they won't miss me, but I'll miss the

opportunity

to
participate. I just cannot afford to give away that much time and effort.

Nils van den Beemt
321193

From your beta ID, I will assume that you are a recent addition to the
Microsoft beta testers.

So, I have a couple of questions for you... why did you sign up for beta
testing? And do you know what the meaning of a gift is?


--
Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]

Post all replies to the group to keep the discussion intact. Due to the
Swen virus, all e-mails sent to my actual account will be deleted w/out
reading.

After searching google.groups.com and finding no answer
Bob <[email protected]> asked:

| To the beta team at Microsoft,
| As an technical beta tester for the Office 2003 office
| suite. I am outraged at the free gift most of us technical
| beta testers received. It's a slap in the face for all of
| our hard work. As a beta tester, I busted my ass for
| months, like a lot of others did, finding bugs in Office
| 2003 , filling out surveys, doing my homework,
| participating in newsgroups, and learning how to use the
| Office 2003 system to the fullest, while holding a full
| time job. Hoping that if I did the best I could, your
| multi-million dollar company would do, as you did in the
| past, with previous Office and Windows betas, give all
| technical beta testers, a free copy of the final product
| for all of our hard work. No!, what did most of us get!.
| Only a $2.00 clip radio that was made in China and a
| sticker. I could have bought something like that at the
| dollar store back here at home. This simply proves to me
| that your company has no respect at all for the hard work
| (free labor), that goes into a product that only your
| company will ever profit from. And yes Microsoft can afford
| to give us beta testers a free copy of Office 2003
| Professional (Full Version). You are not a small company
| just trying to make it in the computer industry. If you
| were I could understand. But you are NOT!. You are a
| multi-million dollar company, owned by the richest man in
| the world. People who go to your Windows and Office launch
| events usually get to take the full product of the launch
| event home for free. Even people who I spoke with that
| work for Comp USA and BestBuy, who have gone to your launch
| events got "free full version copies of your products".
| Given out by Microsoft. And most of them have never even
| beta tested your products. But not us beta testers. I
| personally cannot afford the cost of your Office suite. And
| no I do not have a qualifying upgradeable product for the
| upgrade version. I have no choice now, but to look for
| alternatives like OpenOffice 1.1, or Star Office 7. Since
| the initial cost of Office 2003 Professional (Full
| Version), is beyond my reach. And since you only reward
| your top 60 beta testers, which are probably Microsoft
| employees, and not all of your beta testers, with the full
| version retail copy of Office 2003 Professional. I suggest
| that you keep all further beta testing of your products, in
| house at Redmond, by the employees you pay. If you don't
| plan on giving every beta testers, the final product for
| which we help find bugs, and participate in the development
| of. Free help for little if anything at all. You have
| disappointed allot of us. Because of your inability to give
| a piece of software, that cost little if anything to
| produce. meaning a boxed copy of Office 2003 Professional
| (Full Version). For which we helped you produce. A gift
| that I was really looking forward to for my Windows XP Home
| Edition system. I'm now looking into open source
| alternatives to my Windows software. Including Linux.
| Linux and open source looks way more rewarding for people
| like myself and others. Because at least with open source
| alternatives you get the final product for which you help
| beta test as well as many other reasons I will not get into
| now.. People who develop low cost and free quality
| professional software from the kindness of their heart.
| Star Office 7, and Cinepaint for example. Even Apple's
| beta testers get the final products they beta test. And
| thanks to your ridiculous pricing and paranoid licensing
| scheme I will never own a Microsoft Professional Office
| Suite, like I would have liked to. And no Microsoft Works
| to me is not a professional office suite . Office 2003
| Professional is!.
| From a very disappointed beta tester,
| Robert Kovacs
| (Beta ID Number # 506815)