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MS: Beta Software Good Enough for Production Use

Posted by timothy on from the not-like-they-indemnify-you-for-damages-anyhow dept.

RMX writes "CNet is reporting that Microsoft is starting to license test software for real-world use . In particular, Visual Studio 2005 and the April "community technology preview" of SQL Server 2005 are both supposed to be released sometime in the second half of the year. But Microsoft is claiming the pre-release versions are stable already, so they're licensing the pre-released versions on the grounds that they 'are already suitable for running production business applications.'"

20 of 411 comments (clear)

  1. Beta.... by Shadow_139 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Nothing for you to see here. Please move along.

  2. Microsoft also announced by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    That un-announced future applications such as SQL Server 2010 were so "awesome" and "full of stuff you need" that they'll be licensing them now, before they've actually started work on them.

  3. Well... by composer777 · · Score: 3, Funny

    At least they are finally admitting that it's beta quality.

  4. Microsoft has stable software...? by JediLow · · Score: 1, Funny

    Well... considering that my computer just crashed trying to write this...

  5. Interesting day... by goMac2500 · · Score: 4, Funny

    First root is completely safe, and now beta software is fine for production environments?

    1. Re:Interesting day... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      What next, "Linux is decent desktop OS?"

      *ducks*

  6. Microsoft Software Usable? by Bloodlent · · Score: 2, Funny

    Yeah... alright, next Duke Nukem Forever comes out.

  7. Even better... by Eric_Cartman_South_P · · Score: 4, Funny

    If you want the features in a Microsoft Beta product, you can usually get them in production quality over here -> www.apple.com

  8. I'm confused.... by ShieldW0lf · · Score: 4, Funny

    Are we still supposed to wait for SP2, or does this mean that SP1 is the one that will be ready for production work?

    --
    -1 Uncomfortable Truth
    1. Re:I'm confused.... by dgatwood · · Score: 5, Funny
      I'm confused, too. Wasn't April Fool's Day almost three weeks ago?

      • Root is safe.
      • Beta software good enough for production use
      What's next? "Boy eats own head"?

      --

      Check out my sci-fi/humor trilogy at PatriotsBooks.

    2. Re:I'm confused.... by c++ · · Score: 2, Funny

      I guess you missed that headline... Boy eats own head!

    3. Re:I'm confused.... by sharkey · · Score: 3, Funny
      What's next?

      • Slashdot uses valid markup and CSS
      • CmdrTaco posts front-page story that hasn't been posted before
      • JonKatz receives Pulitzer Prize
      --

      --
      "Outlook not so good." That magic 8-ball knows everything! I'll ask about Exchange Server next.
  9. This is not the first time they did this by mustardman123 · · Score: 1, Funny

    Anyone remember Millenium (cringe!). That is STILL beta software!

  10. No x36! by jrushton · · Score: 2, Funny

    You bad man! I am afraid i CANNOT recommend that book from amazon to anyone else.

    Dear me :(

  11. Beta Software Good Enough for Production Use by 10scjed · · Score: 3, Funny

    That explains all those holes, turns out their stuff has been beta all this time...
    kinda weird to announce that 15-20 years after the fact.

    --
    --10scjed IANAL,AFAIK
  12. Re:If it compiles by Un+pobre+guey · · Score: 3, Funny
    Here are some working definitions:

    Alpha - Program compiles without errors, and can start.

    Early Beta -Program can run for several minutes without crashing or doing something really bad.

    Beta - Program can run for a while, and won't lock up the system if left running overnight.

    RC1 - Program can be used to complete modest tasks, and save the data. Data can even be reloaded in another session.

    RC2 - You have to know how to crash it. Otherwise it seems to be able to run for hours.

    Version 1 - The program only crashes or screws up when you start pushing it to its limits, such as opening lots of files, using many of its features in a single session or using them repeatedly, or when you demo it to stockholders.

    SP1 - Fixes most of the deluge of bugs that came in after Version 1

    SP2 -Now only obscure and really difficult to resolve bugs exist. The damn thing actually works.

    SP3 - You can actually get lots of work done, and user error far surpasses program error in frequency of screw-ups.

  13. Beta-ware by jfb3 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Friends don't let friends drive beta.

  14. Perpetual Beta by JoaoPinheiro · · Score: 3, Funny

    Wait a minute... But aren't all Microsoft products released under a beta status? I mean... Just look at the crashes! Whenever a Microsoft product is reaching a semi-final status (usually SP2 or SP3), they just release a new product or OS (in beta status, obviously) to replace the previous one.

    It's kind of like this:
    Microsoft Final = Beta
    Microsoft Beta = Alpha
    Microsoft Alpha = Segmentation Fault.

    --
    João Pinheiro
  15. Even Microsoft stories are Google stories now by HishamMuhammad · · Score: 2, Funny

    Google is the new Soviet Russia/All Your Base/Natalie Portman/Beowulf Cluster.

    --
    The filesystem is the package manager
  16. Who you gonna call? by fizban · · Score: 3, Funny

    Root is safe.
    Beta is production.
    Cats and Dogs, living together.
    Mass hysteria, people!

    --

    +1 Insightful, -1 Troll. What can I say, I'm an Insightful Troll.