What is Parallels up to?

[David5000]

The forum is a free-for-all right now and that's not really the best way to test software. It's also not been fair to the people who just want support.

As one of those who just wants support, I salute you for pointing out this glaring problem.

The easiest way for Parallels to make these discussions immediately more useful to customers would be to have a separate forum only for beta testing.

David

 

[dkp]

As one of those who just wants support, I salute you for pointing out this glaring problem.

The easiest way for Parallels to make these discussions immediately more useful to customers would be to have a separate forum only for beta testing.

David

I suggested that a very long time ago. It began an interesting relationship with persons here who are very much against many process improvements that have been suggested.

There's good news: There is a beta forum now. You have to be an official beta tester to participate in that forum. Better late than never, and hopefully it will bring much needed order to this forum.

 

[dkp]

.

I have completed that process, a long time ago, but I heard nothing, so about 3 weeks ago, I tried it again. I got errors and figured it was because I had already completed it.

I have not received any beta versions to test. Now this could be as a result of one of two reasons. 1) There is no beta version available for Workstation, which I indicated was what I am using and willing to test. Or 2) Parallels don't like the critical nature of some of my posts, and don't want me included.

Are you aware of a beta program currently in progess?
.

No. I haven't joined the beta testers group as I didn't want to assign away my rights to speak my mind.

 

[wesley]

Seems there isn't any active beta testing in progress yet, judging from the posts here. Also, I don't think applying for beta testers makes you automatically one. It's still up for Parallels to decide. Closed betas and open betas each have their pros and cons. I don't want to miss out on anything here so I signed up.

Personally, I don't think signing up for closed beta group is 'signing away the rights to speak my mind', because unless you're a beta tester you're not supposed to have the beta material in the first place, and thus cannot speak about it AT ALL. But the beta testers can have feedback to Parallels and, to a limited extent, to public. If the product is in its release form, I can speak out about it like anyone else.

 

[drval]

No. I haven't joined the beta testers group as I didn't want to assign away my rights to speak my mind.

So am I missing something here?

You wanted a beta group/forum. Now there is one but you're NOT participating in it? So does that mean that what you thought was a good idea was "good" for others in some way but it isn't actually good for you.

Again, perhaps I'm missing something here but it seems just a bit inconsistent to have been so demanding of something but then not be involved in it when it happens.

 

[hoju]

actually huju i don't think it is lame whatsoever, nor a "corporate takeover." It's more like parallels finally organizing a proper beta testing program, exactly as many people in this forum have been screaming for them to do for months.

It is true, there are many beta testers hanging around in this forum. There's also a lot of people that are just looking for support for their purchased product. The forum is a free-for-all right now and that's not really the best way to test software. It's also not been fair to the people who just want support.

Also - headache of filling out a form to be a beta tester..? Give me a break! It took like 1 minute to fill out. If you can't be bothered to fill out the form, then that probably indicates that you won't be that helpful in reporting problems. Because beta testing is all about filling out report tickets and stuff like that.

Sonny boy, get off your soapbox. (Seems to be a lot of sudsy people on this forum.)

What sort of humorless nerd takes the time to berate another poster in some sort of 3rd party defense? If you have a point, make it. Otherwise, stop lecturing.

I signed up for the VMware beta, because they had the good sense to indicate there was one. And yes, I even contributed to the bug list.

And don't tell me what Beta testing is all about, I was developing software when your mama was still wipin your hiney... which there is every indication has not yet ceased.

 

[chuwy]

Woah guys, calm down! This is getting way out of hand. Everybody just stop being so defensive and calm down.

To add to the discussion, I hope that we will still be informed of beta products to test even if we are not signed up, I don't have the time to actively hunt out bugs in the betas but i can still give constructive feedback, which is what most of the forum members do. Even just to keep all the beta comments in one sticky, another forum would be even better.

 

[dkp]

So am I missing something here?

You wanted a beta group/forum. Now there is one but you're NOT participating in it? So does that mean that what you thought was a good idea was "good" for others in some way but it isn't actually good for you.

Again, perhaps I'm missing something here but it seems just a bit inconsistent to have been so demanding of something but then not be involved in it when it happens.

It was a good idea because it is the right thing to do for the community, not because it benefits me directly. I get paid a lot of money to write things and I'm not going to sign that away. I'm not important to the beta program at all, in fact, so have no need/reason/benefit for joining it. I can and will continue to help here with the end users that are the direct beneficiaries of my earlier advocacy. Life is full of examples where one can advocate something that is good for the community even if it is not something that is finally practiced by the advocate. I can advocate abortion on demand and never find a reason to experience it as an example. If you need an example of hypocrisy then consider global warming, carbon credits, and Al Gore.

Perhaps you've noticed the not so subtle change in this forum now that betaware issues are not interspersed with released product support issues? Nice, don't you think?

 

[dkp]

Seems there isn't any active beta testing in progress yet, judging from the posts here. Also, I don't think applying for beta testers makes you automatically one. It's still up for Parallels to decide. Closed betas and open betas each have their pros and cons. I don't want to miss out on anything here so I signed up.

Unless you've been accepted as a beta tester you may not know about current beta projects unless someone violates the agreement and speaks of it publicly.

Personally, I don't think signing up for closed beta group is 'signing away the rights to speak my mind', because unless you're a beta tester you're not supposed to have the beta material in the first place, and thus cannot speak about it AT ALL. But the beta testers can have feedback to Parallels and, to a limited extent, to public. If the product is in its release form, I can speak out about it like anyone else.

Read the intro page carefully:

What will I need to do as a Parallels Beta Tester?

* Install and configure the Beta product within one week after you download it.
* Spend at least 3 hours each week testing the product during the product beta testing cycle. Beta testing cycles typically last 38 weeks.
* Report your experiences by email or the Beta Forum. Include any problems or bugs you experienced with the product, as well as suggestions for the products improvement and product wish lists.
* Not discuss the beta product with any third party (including posting information to blogs, forums, MySpace, YouTube, etc.) unless specifically authorized by Parallels. Breeching the confidentiality of the beta program will result in immediate termination of your privileges and may result in civil or criminal action.

Pay attention to that last bullet point and in particular the last sentence. Even when you are innocent you still have to pay for a lawyer should they choose to sue you for any alleged violation of the agreement. I'd rather not put myself in that situation.

 

[websyndicate]

Well I did submit for beta testing. I use it on parallels about 5 times a week about a total of 25 hours because I program in visual basic for school. I hope I get approved.