Hi David,
I'm sorry you're in the position you're in. and I don't know why GW
treats
the non-U.S. customers differently.
I do know however, when you participate in a beta, you do so because you
want the end product to be as good as it can be, and hopefully have some
of
the particulars which are troubling you, resolved.
You don't join for any kind of remuneration; not even a guarantee that you
will get the final product any earlier than others in your area.
I'm sorry about that, but those are the generally accepted rules
everywhere
for beta-testers.
The only advice I can give is that, if you don't like beta testing a
product, because you don't like downgrading when necessary, then don't do
so.
I hope they get your product to you soon, but I have to say, I don't know
the reasons behind the delay. is it due to payment slowness, or slowness
for the locked versions, or the localization that's necessary? whatever
it
is, I imagine you will get it as soon as everyone else outside of the U.S.
does.
btw, I did make an argument on the scripting list to other scripters that
it
was a generally good idea to write scripts that would continue to run
under
pre 7.1 versions, but you know, we evidently did not have a single script
writer outside of the U.S. participating in that list, to remind us that
these versions would be delayed outside of the U.S., and so no one could
think of any good reasons why scripters should make the extra effort. I'm
sorry about that, but since this discussion took place on the scripting
list, all I can suggest is that next time, you sign up for it as well, to
help remind us of unusual situations.
hth,
Chip
-----Original Message-----
From: David [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Monday, August 03, 2009 4:02 AM
To: WE English mailing list
Subject: Beta turning into DEMO - frustrated!
GW HAS DONE IT AGAIN,
Are we to congratulate, laugh or cry?
I made a note on this, last year, upon the final release of WE7.0. I was
told, that the staff would look into the matter, for future releases.
Hence,
I really expected, that things would have changed, when WE7.1 was turned
out
the door, this spring/summer. But, this morning, my computer, told all my
dreams to fly, as far away, as ever possible. GW, still seem to think that
NON-US users are not as important, in the BETA cycles, as the US udsers.
Strange!Especially, since several features/bugs, have been discoverd and
fixed, namely because of feedbacks coming from outside the US. Allright,
let's take a look at the history - which seem to repeat itself - and get
into details, what all of this is about.
I am living outside the USA. The authorities locally, have decided that I
am
only allowed to run a local version (european) of WE. I am not very
pleased
with the way they force this upon me, but that is another story, which has
nothing really to do on this list. Yet, I was given the version of WE6.1,
about two years ago. Last spring, when GW introduced the first BETA of
WE7.0, I gladly threw myself onto the merry-go-around, of installing,
testing, and feedbacking the Beta version. I enjoyed the whole three-step
Beta cycle, all through last summer, and got to love several of the new
features in WE7, including scripts. In many ways, I realized, that my
daily
computer operations, became relying on many of the new features. Then, at
the end of last summer, GW made the FINAL release of WE7.0. That is, the
final version of the US WE7. For those of us, who was running a NON-US
version - at the bottom of our installation - we were still left with the
Beta3 of WE7, for about a month or so. Then, one morning, we woke up,
turned
on our computer, and was told, that the BETA3 had expired, and our WE
installation, was now running in demo mode. This left me, and all other
users in the same setting, who had decided to join the Beta testers club,
with two options: 1) Leave WE7 on our computer, restarting it every thirty
minutes, due to the demo mode; or, 2) Reinstall WE6.1, rolling ourselves a
'century' of operation back (at least, it felt like that). The release of
WE7 locally, appeared on the scene, six months later, which meant, that
not
until LATE February this year, I was actually given the chance, to install
my final version of WE7, and really start to enjoy it. As you all know,
only
a couple of months later, the Beta of WE7.1, was realeased, Once again, I
joined the Beta cycle, and let the list, and staff, have whatever I could
give, for feedback, and bug-discovery.
As I said, in the introduction of this message, this very morning, I woke
up
to the realization, that GW has let the history, repeat itself. Now, the
Beta version of WE7.1, has turned into a demonstration mode, and I am once
again, left with no other real choice, but to throw myself back to the
WE7.01 version, loosing all the benefits of WE7.1. When will the local
version of WE7.1 be out? HM! Well! One month, three months, half a year?
Nobody knows, and the local dealer tells - in the best GW spirit - it will
be out, when it is out.
Based on the feedback I got last fall, when I made my complaint to GW
staff,
I really thought they would have had a work around this situation, this
time. Seems strange to me, that we are living in 2009, and there still is
no
way for users outside US, to join a Beta cycle, and smoothly, without any
break, get their final version, whenever it is available. Just like the
users of a US version, who join the Beta, and within a few weeks of the
final release, can install and enjoy it fully.
"Come on, mr. There really ain't that much difference between 7.01, and
7.1!
Simply rolling back your installation, won't make any change!"
It won't, ayeh? Wel,, let's have but one look at that matter: Several
scripts, have been upgraded to run under WE7.1. Trying to run them under
WE7.01, now only results in an error message, letting me know, that I no
longer can make use of the features, these scripts offered. That, in
reality, means that not only am I forced to go back to WE7.01, but the
scripts, and features from the scripts, that I have been used to, is no
longer available, putting me even further back. Wonder, how many of the US
users, would have accepted this kind of rhow-back with their screen
reader.
Yes, the world actually has other continents, but the North-American one.
And, yes, Gw proudly anounces that they are a worldwide known manufacturer
of the screenreader Window-Eyes. What they don't tell, anywhere on their
webpage, is that the only ones who really are welcome to use the ability
of
joining Beta cycles, are those who are located right outside GW's
front-door. The loose of the 'new' versions/features of WE, does NOT IN
ANY
WAY encourage users outside North-America to join the Beta cycles. That,
in
turn, does mean, that several bugs, would never, or at least, hardly have
been discovered, and fixed.
It puzzles me even more, this time, since WE7.1 only can be installed upon
a
WE7/WE7.01 installation, and furthermore, the 7.1 version is a
free-of-charge upgrade for those of us who already have the we7 series
installed. Why, then, all of this paronoid beta expiration, when it is a
free of charge upgrade? And no matter what all about payments etc, GW
really
owe to reward those of us, who take our time and efforts to join the Beta
testers club, contributing to making the WE screenreader as good as it is,
that much that we all would have a beta running, till we are offered a
full
version in our local area. This is fully technical possible. Other
manufacturers are able to do things like that, and GW should have a work
around it. At least, they could offer the NON-US users, who are joining
the
Beta cycle, a temporary license key, that would expire about one month,
after the final realese locally. What's the matter, why has nothing like
this been around long time ago, GW STAFF? See what your product would be
without Beta testers all over the world? And try the same behavior toward
your US customers, and see how long it will take, before noone wants to
Beta
test any longer, or even deal with your business. Sure, you would never be
making big business, if you did this in the States, so why then, do it
outside? Ain't we all humans?If an upgrade is beneficial, or necessary, in
the US, what makes you think, it is not in the rest of the world? I really
hope, that GW will come up with a reliable work around for this issue.
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