unfair have pay full version in year s time

Does anyone else it is bit mean of Microsoft to ask people to test out Vista for them in the real world through this Beta, then expect them to pay for not just the upgrade, but perhaps the more costly full version?
Surely we should get it for free for helping them out?
:o)

Does anyone else it is bit mean of Microsoft to ask people to test out Vista for them in the real world through this Beta, then expect them to pay for not just the upgrade, but perhaps the more costly full version?
Surely we should get it for free for helping them out?

I think by releasing this microsoft was thinking more along the lines of showing people how great Vista is so they would be excited about buying it ...
Looks like their plan backfired ...
lol
- JB

On Thu, 22 Jun 2006 12:07:01 -0700, Dazza wrote:

Does anyone else it is bit mean of Microsoft to ask people to test out Vista for them in the real world through this Beta, then expect them to pay for not just the upgrade, but perhaps the more costly full version?
Surely we should get it for free for helping them out?
:o)

How many detailed bug reports have you sent in? -- Michael Cecil http://home.comcast.net/~macecil/ http://home.comcast.net/~safehex/

Another person who wants something for free. Microsoft is doing such a wide release of the beta so that more "regular" people can have some input on the final product. So many people are using the beta that if it were free in the end MS would go broke. It takes millions of hours to create a good OS. If you like the final product, buy it, if not use XP. -- AMD-FX-60 2gb OCZ Plat. memory ATI 1800 AIW 2x74gb Raptors in RAID-0 2x400gb WD HDD in RAID-1 Epox Nvidia-4 Ultra M/B Senior Member Overclockers.com
"Michael Cecil" wrote:

On Thu, 22 Jun 2006 12:07:01 -0700, Dazza Dazza@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
Does anyone else it is bit mean of Microsoft to ask people to test out Vista for them in the real world through this Beta, then expect them to pay for not just the upgrade, but perhaps the more costly full version?
Surely we should get it for free for helping them out?
:o)
How many detailed bug reports have you sent in? -- Michael Cecil http://home.comcast.net/~macecil/ http://home.comcast.net/~safehex/

On Thu, 22 Jun 2006 13:43:01 -0700, Chris S wrote:

If you like the final product, buy it, if not use XP.

Ah, yes, XP - you don't have to buy it. ;) -- Michael Cecil http://home.comcast.net/~macecil/ http://home.comcast.net/~safehex/

Not really, the Vista preview is really something free already given to you by Microsoft.
Most people in these public newsgroups with Vista are part of the Public Beta which is also called the Customer Preview Program. While you can test and submit bugs, the emphasis of this program is to give people a chance to preview Vista. The CPP is primarily a benefit for the customer.
The Technical Beta testers on the other hand have their own private newsgroups. But even they have no guarantee of free or even discounted Vista.
-- Jupiter Jones [MVP] http://www3.telus.net/dandemar http://www.dts-l.org
"Dazza" wrote in message

Does anyone else it is bit mean of Microsoft to ask people to test out Vista for them in the real world through this Beta, then expect them to pay for not just the upgrade, but perhaps the more costly full version?
Surely we should get it for free for helping them out?
:o)

I think people missed the point of my post.
My comment was that people who are beta testing Vista "may" have to pay MORE for the final version, as they may have to buy the full version rather than the upgrade. Here in the UK the full version usually sells for £50+ more than the upgrade.
I have beta tested lots of software and always given full feedback, reported bugs and suggested solutions. In return I have always got either the final version free, or a at discount by way of thank you. May be thats because, in the main, I test out education software.
Again thats not really my point, it is the possibility of paying more and actually being penalised for being a beta tester.
ps - Sorry for posting in 3 posts, it kept telling me the submission had failed.

"Jupiter Jones [MVP]" wrote:

Not really, the Vista preview is really something free already given to you by Microsoft.
Most people in these public newsgroups with Vista are part of the Public Beta which is also called the Customer Preview Program. While you can test and submit bugs, the emphasis of this program is to give people a chance to preview Vista. The CPP is primarily a benefit for the customer.
The Technical Beta testers on the other hand have their own private newsgroups. But even they have no guarantee of free or even discounted Vista.
-- Jupiter Jones [MVP] http://www3.telus.net/dandemar http://www.dts-l.org
"Dazza" wrote in message Does anyone else it is bit mean of Microsoft to ask people to test out Vista for them in the real world through this Beta, then expect them to pay for not just the upgrade, but perhaps the more costly full version?
Surely we should get it for free for helping them out?
:o)

Since you have beta-tested "lot's of software" you have most likely followed all the proper steps, like making backups, dual-booting or using Vista only on a test machine and such. What would prevent you from, when Vista finally RTM's, reformating with XP and installing an upgrade of Vista?
"Dazza" wrote:

I think people missed the point of my post.
My comment was that people who are beta testing Vista "may" have to pay MORE for the final version, as they may have to buy the full version rather than the upgrade. Here in the UK the full version usually sells for £50+ more than the upgrade.
I have beta tested lots of software and always given full feedback, reported bugs and suggested solutions. In return I have always got either the final version free, or a at discount by way of thank you. May be thats because, in the main, I test out education software.
Again thats not really my point, it is the possibility of paying more and actually being penalised for being a beta tester.
ps - Sorry for posting in 3 posts, it kept telling me the submission had failed.

"Jupiter Jones [MVP]" wrote:
Not really, the Vista preview is really something free already given to you by Microsoft.
Most people in these public newsgroups with Vista are part of the Public Beta which is also called the Customer Preview Program. While you can test and submit bugs, the emphasis of this program is to give people a chance to preview Vista. The CPP is primarily a benefit for the customer.
The Technical Beta testers on the other hand have their own private newsgroups. But even they have no guarantee of free or even discounted Vista.
-- Jupiter Jones [MVP] http://www3.telus.net/dandemar http://www.dts-l.org
"Dazza" wrote in message Does anyone else it is bit mean of Microsoft to ask people to test out Vista for them in the real world through this Beta, then expect them to pay for not just the upgrade, but perhaps the more costly full version?
Surely we should get it for free for helping them out?
:o)

Why would a Beta tester have to buy the full version? There is no more reason for a Beta tester to need a full version than anyone else.
With Windows XP both the full and upgrade could perform an upgrade and a Clean installation. I expect the same with Vista. For a Clean Install using an upgrade CD, qualifying media may need to be inserted for a few minutes. An installation of a Beta OS or the Beta CD does not a qualify.
Are you in the Technical Beta fro Vista or the Customer Preview Program? Most in this newsgroup are not technical Beta testers.
-- Jupiter Jones [MVP] http://www3.telus.net/dandemar http://www.dts-l.org
"Dazza" wrote in message

I think people missed the point of my post.
My comment was that people who are beta testing Vista "may" have to pay MORE for the final version, as they may have to buy the full version rather than the upgrade. Here in the UK the full version usually sells for £50+ more than the upgrade.
I have beta tested lots of software and always given full feedback, reported bugs and suggested solutions. In return I have always got either the final version free, or a at discount by way of thank you. May be thats because, in the main, I test out education software.
Again thats not really my point, it is the possibility of paying more and actually being penalised for being a beta tester.
ps - Sorry for posting in 3 posts, it kept telling me the submission had failed.

I am in the Customer Participation Programme and as such suprised at the rudeness of some of the comments. Perhaps the two camps should have been seperated (hehe)
Your reply has been the most helpful Jupiter, it seems I may have misconstrude this clause
"Upgrade limitations You may not be able to upgrade your installation of Windows Vista Beta 2 (or RC1) to the final, commercially available edition of Windows Vista. To upgrade you will need to acquire the final full edition of Windows Vista and you may have to do a clean installation."
Having a licensed copy of XP I was concerned that I may have to buy a full version and not be able to buy the upgrade.


"Jupiter Jones [MVP]" wrote:

Why would a Beta tester have to buy the full version? There is no more reason for a Beta tester to need a full version than anyone else.
With Windows XP both the full and upgrade could perform an upgrade and a Clean installation. I expect the same with Vista. For a Clean Install using an upgrade CD, qualifying media may need to be inserted for a few minutes. An installation of a Beta OS or the Beta CD does not a qualify.
Are you in the Technical Beta fro Vista or the Customer Preview Program? Most in this newsgroup are not technical Beta testers.
-- Jupiter Jones [MVP] http://www3.telus.net/dandemar http://www.dts-l.org
"Dazza" wrote in message I think people missed the point of my post.
My comment was that people who are beta testing Vista "may" have to pay MORE for the final version, as they may have to buy the full version rather than the upgrade. Here in the UK the full version usually sells for £50+ more than the upgrade.
I have beta tested lots of software and always given full feedback, reported bugs and suggested solutions. In return I have always got either the final version free, or a at discount by way of thank you. May be thats because, in the main, I test out education software.
Again thats not really my point, it is the possibility of paying more and actually being penalised for being a beta tester.
ps - Sorry for posting in 3 posts, it kept telling me the submission had failed.

Generally it is a bad idea to upgrade a Beta since unknown Beta code may be left behind. So Microsoft may not allow such an upgrade. They tell us that in advance so we can plan accordingly. Then you know a Clean Installation may be necessary. But you can use the Upgrade as described or sometimes install the previous OS and upgrade from there. Sometimes the 2nd option is necessary for OEM where the CD provided is not recognized as qualifying media.
-- Jupiter Jones [MVP] http://www3.telus.net/dandemar http://www.dts-l.org
"Dazza" wrote in message

I am in the Customer Participation Programme and as such suprised at the rudeness of some of the comments. Perhaps the two camps should have been seperated (hehe)
Your reply has been the most helpful Jupiter, it seems I may have misconstrude this clause
"Upgrade limitations You may not be able to upgrade your installation of Windows Vista Beta 2 (or RC1) to the final, commercially available edition of Windows Vista. To upgrade you will need to acquire the final full edition of Windows Vista and you may have to do a clean installation."
Having a licensed copy of XP I was concerned that I may have to buy a full version and not be able to buy the upgrade.


"Jupiter Jones [MVP]" wrote:
Why would a Beta tester have to buy the full version? There is no more reason for a Beta tester to need a full version than anyone else.
With Windows XP both the full and upgrade could perform an upgrade and a Clean installation. I expect the same with Vista. For a Clean Install using an upgrade CD, qualifying media may need to be inserted for a few minutes. An installation of a Beta OS or the Beta CD does not a qualify.
Are you in the Technical Beta fro Vista or the Customer Preview Program? Most in this newsgroup are not technical Beta testers.
-- Jupiter Jones [MVP] http://www3.telus.net/dandemar http://www.dts-l.org