Do you use Beta Software at all?

[Agenator]

Saying that you could choose between the stable version of phpbb2 or the unstable phpbb3 which would you use? I normally would choose to use phpbb3 becasue of the added features that I would eventually have to hack into phpbb2 such as the ability to put flash embed code into a post. On the other hand though, its probably less easy to use for a novice user and will perform weird tasks, so my question is do you use beta software or do you wait until the software is released onto the market until you use it?
What if its free when released?
What if the beta is free but the end product costs money?
Do you view video games any different from software in terms of using a beta version?
Should all beta's be available to the public?
Does a beta need to be relatively stable before its released for the public?
Anyway, answer as many or as few of those questions as you like.... Im just glad to hear your opinion...

 

[QuwenQ]

do you use beta software or do you wait until the software is released onto the market until you use it? Depends on the company and product. If TrueCrypt was released as a Beta, I wouldn't trust it because of the sensitivity.

What if its free when released? Only if it's free. =)

What if the beta is free but the end product costs money? See number 1. If it passes that, I'll just keep the latest beta before the paid version. xD

Do you view video games any different from software in terms of using a beta version? Just no. Just, no. It ruins the pleasure of the final game release. Not even game previews.

Should all beta's be available to the public? See number one. =)

Does a beta need to be relatively stable before its released for the public? Well, if it weren't, it would be an alpha.

 

[Agenator]

lol yea I kinda agree..

 

[Slothie]

I happen to enjoy beta's, I love testing new stuff and contributing the s/w development scene by submitting meaningful bug reports.

 

[warlordste]

it depends on the software it there already a version out and the beta is only an undated version then no if there no version out there and i want to use the badly why theres all the bugs still in it but mostly its a no !!!!!

 

[alfred]

I would use it if it were free, but for open source scripts... No, There is no compatibility for betas.

 

[nakg0d]

I use some beta software, but if it shows some incompatibilities, I simply uninstall/restore to an earlier point.

 

[stealth_thunder]

I use beta software too, because that is when the time to give feedback to the developer about his soon released product. Which is good to see the software cause weird things on my computer because it proved how stable can the software be.

 

[munim]

i am working on a professional project and i am trying to use the latest stable releases of software instead of betas because there is a lot at stake..
if i have to make a choice for a site of mine, i would go for the beta.
btw, as a end-user, i use beta everyday! Gmail, google blog search, orkut and various google products! :-D

 

[GSTutor]

I don't use beta versions cause sometimes they are buggy.

 

[QueenHawkeye]

I use beta versions sometimes, depending on the program, but if it's too buggy or laggy, I usually go back to the non-beta version.

 

[Sharky]

Currently using Trillian Astra which is pre-release software Pretty damn good too! Except it always dies when I try to quit it, and windows flags up a XD (aka DEP) error... Ahh well, this is why it's never been closed!

 

[chefan]

Looking at the numerous issues, i think everyone using Windows uses beta, including myself. Compared to other developers ideas of stages of their products, the last non beta M$ released was NT4SP6 XD

Seriously: some of the better beta packages around are more stable than a lot of commercial so called release versions.

 

[chewett]

i would use betas for some things like the latest version on msn or a game that costs but the beta is free

but for some things like a beta browser no way due to the likelihood of it having security flaws