Ron, I must respectfully disagree with you. I find this to be a most
innovative and thorough way to quickly find out about problems from the
beginning before the final product is released. We are talking about a very
sophisticated specialized software package that must work reliably and
consistently with a plethora of commercial software, shareware, hardware and
software speech synthesizers and oh yes and don't forget often
unpredictable Windows 95, 98, 2,000 and NT. Who better than the end user,
the individual who will use the software, to be a part of the process and
find and report problems. How better than to put JFW out in the hands of
people who have different brands of computers, video, hardware and software
system configurations in order to detect problems in the realistic world of
the end user. Each of the different releases I have had the privilege of
helping to beta test has felt different, reacted in different ways to the
same programs on the same and different computers, and I've been glad to
take the time to inform HJ of what I have found and ask them to correct
problems. Release candidate 2 demonstrates the responsiveness that HJ has
shown to input from the public beta process. Release candidate 2 is the end
result of not only the input of a select group, but also input from users
who have had the interest and willingness to take the time to dedicate to
making this product one outstanding screen-reader.
It is risky to put your product through the riggers of public beta testing.
However this innovate approach had made JFW release candidate 2 a super
winner. When users receive the CD version, it will be reliable, stable and
well thought out and a thoroughly tested high quality end product. Grant
From: Ron Milliman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Saturday, 09 October, 1999 9:33 AM
Subject: Re: Release Candidate 2 is now posted on the hj web page
> JFW listers, please excuse my ignorance, but I am a bit confused! Yes,
> even more than usual! Is the a JFW version 3.3, a version 3.31, a version
> 3.31.31 and now, a version 3.31.35 Release Candidate 2???
>
> What in the hell is going on? Why is HJ putting up program versions full
> of problems and bugs for us to find for them. Doesn't HJ have competent
> enough people to find their programming problems an bugs? If we are going
> to do their work for them, then, it seems as if some of us should be hired
> as paid beta testers.
>
> Do not misunderstand. I am very reluctant to criticize HJ because I am
> deeply appreciative of their work and am a genuine admirer of Ted Henter
> and what he has accomplished. However, releasing a program, even as a
> "release candidate" prematurely, with the objective of letting us find the
> problems and bugs, is a highly questionable practice. I suggest that they
> establish a "representative" group of typical users as paid beta testers,
> send them the release candidates, and then, after the problems and bugs
are
> worked out, HJ can put it up for the rest of us to download and/or they
can
> ship them out to us as officially released upgrades or new versions. I
> realize that even then we will probably find a few small problems, but the
> current approach is only creating chaos, giving them a poor reputation,
and
> confusing many users.
>
> Ron Milliman
>
>
>
>
> -
> Visit the jfw ml web page: http://jfw.cjb.net
>
-
Visit the jfw ml web page: http://jfw.cjb.net
