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Why Does Beta Last So Long?

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the marketing-devices-and-other-evils dept.

Carl Bialik writes "Noting that Google News has been labeled 'beta' for nearly three years, and Microsoft's antispyware program for nearly a year, the Wall Street Journal looks at why 'beta' lasts so long these days. The article mentions the usefulness of getting the masses to test the product, but also notices another possible reason: 'Betas also have become a marketing device in a fiercely competitive industry, allowing software and Internet firms to release new products or services sooner and cultivate early buzz. Betas, which once had been quietly distributed, are trumpeted in press releases and at news conferences. "I deplore it as a consumer; I admire it as a marketing professional," said Peter Sealey, a marketing professor at the University of California at Berkeley and former chief marketing officer at Coca-Cola Co. "I can't come up with anything else in the entire marketing world where marketers knowingly introduce a flawed or inadequate product [and] it helps grow your user base." '"

12 of 258 comments (clear)

  1. now if only the xbox 360 would do this... by altoz · · Score: 3, Funny

    seriously, why wouldn't you do this with dedicated gamers AND still charge them money for the xbox?

  2. hmmm by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny
    ...said Peter Sealey, a marketing professor at the University of California at Berkeley and former chief marketing officer at Coca-Cola Co. "I can't come up with anything else in the entire marketing world where marketers knowingly introduce a flawed or inadequate product...
    Can we talk about "New Coke(tm)"?
    1. Re:hmmm by AndroidCat · · Score: 2, Funny

      What's in a name? that which we call Coke Beta
      By any other name would taste as sweet;

      --
      One line blog. I hear that they're called Twitters now.
  3. Beta First Post by FearTheFrail · · Score: 2, Funny

    This is a public beta for First Post, and I'd appreciate it if you could report any placement-related or other bugs.

    --
    ___ In the words of Gen. Douglas McArthur: "I'll be right back."
    1. Re:Beta First Post by eMartin · · Score: 4, Funny

      "I'd appreciate it if you could report any placement-related or other bugs."

      Well, you seem to have placed it in the middle of the page instead of the top.

  4. Betas are the best! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Alphas have to work too hard, plus they have to think too hard all the time. They don't get to laugh and play. And Gammas and Deltas wear those ugly jumpsuits. I'm so glad I'm a Beta! Aren't you glad you're a Beta, too?

    1. Re:Betas are the best! by siwelwerd · · Score: 2, Funny

      I thought we'd all be Tri-Lams around here...

  5. I'm curious by Ohreally_factor · · Score: 4, Funny

    How's that Windows XP beta been going? The OS X beta I've been involved with has been pretty good. We're up to 10.4.3b, and I'm confident we'll see an RC before the 10.5 beta comes out. =)

    --
    It's not offtopic, dumbass. It's orthogonal.
  6. Why? That's so easy ... by Chromodromic · · Score: 4, Funny

    Because most programmers are male, and most male programmers have a fear of commit.

    --
    Chr0m0Dr0m!C
  7. how do you boil a frog? by Thud457 · · Score: 1, Funny
    New Coke was a ploy to change the formulation of "classic" Coke from wholsome cane sugar to high-fructose corn syrup. If they had just directly changed the formula without the intermediate New Coke step, people would have noticed the difference immediately.

    Then started the epedemic of teen obesity.


    At least that's what THEY want you to think...

    --

    the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

  8. Re: Look at it this way by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Linux is a piece of shit and should be considered "beta", at best. Server crashes and installation issues are just some of the problems organisations get from mislabeled products.

    Thank you for your input, Mister Balmer.

    Now go work on your dance for the next developer conference. Try to find something more inspiring than the Miami Sound Machine for music, and come up with better moves than the "Gunshot-In-The-Thigh-And-Need-To-Pee-Really-Badly Shuffle."

  9. Why does Beta last? by 1zenerdiode · · Score: 5, Funny

    - Superior picture quality and signal-to-noise vs. VHS
    - Widespread adoption by studios and professionals (Beta SP)
    - Convenient smaller-sized cassette
    - Mfr'd and licensed by Sony, a company known for their progressive stance regarding consumer rights.