Just an aside about being a "beta tester"

[Ed Campbell]

All of us grump, now and then, about being unpaid beta testers for D*. I came across a comparable event, this morning which, believe me, is of a greater size than the HR20 questions we've been dealing with in our particular world.

Microsoft released the Zune, yesterday -- the MP3 player with which they hope to threaten the Empire of iPod.

Uh, one thing. They were in such a hurry to get it out into the holiday marketplace -- they skipped making it compatible with their new operating system, Vista, which is readying to roll out into the business world -- followed by the world of retail.

Tee-Hee.

[mtnagel]

Engadget had an article about all the issues with installing. Tried it twice on two different computers and had issues both times.

Here's the article - http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/13/installing-the-zune-sucked

[PoitNarf]

While this has absolutely nothing to do with the HR20, I really don't see the problem here. They probably tried installing it with the RC2 build of Vista. I'm sure once Vista is available for purchase, there will be an updated version of the Zune software available that is compatible.

I have run across several different programs here at work that don't play nice with my Vista RC2 box. Two of the most important ones for my work here, Active Directory and Group Policy Management console, will not install.

Any version of Vista people have installed right now is a pre-release version. All of us with HR20s right now have "release" versions. I don't mind seeing annoying bugs on my Vista boxes right now as they are expected, but they are unacceptable on my HR20.

[ouijal]

I guess I don't understand how bringing up some other messed up hardware makes it any better that D* messed up their hardware. Doesn't make me feel any better about it.

HAY MICROSOFT DOES IT TOO is of little comfort. I know MS does some effed up product roll outs, I just wish D* didn't follow suit.

[Earl Bonovich]

I know it "kinda" corrolates to the HR20 experiences, but this method of release and patch... is pretty common amongst all products....

Sony has already announced that there will be at least one if not multiple software updates for their PS3 in the early months...

So I have moved this to the general discussion area.

[Jeremy W]

The Zune doesn't work with an OS that you can't even buy yet? DEAR GOD!

[Ed Campbell]

Sorry for the wrong place, Earl. It just struck that responsive chord when I bumped into this, this morning.

btw -- since Vista has gone Gold for distribution to PC mfgs, I should think there would be a few folks out there with RC's which match the final product. [though it was M$oft experiences that convinced me to stop volunteering for most beta testing]

[PoitNarf]

The Zune doesn't work with an OS that you can't even buy yet? DEAR GOD!

My point exactly.

[cbearnm]

The 360 is in the same boat.
Software (games) frequently get patches applied, particularly for online features and multiplayer. It seems the industry is in such a hurry to ship, they ship it incomplete, then send the patch out later. COD2 was a huge problem initially. Once they patched it, it was wonderful, but a royal pain for a couple of months.
The whole online community is in part to blame. We (unintentionally) have made it too easy for software publishers to fix problems, as compared to even a few years ago. 5 or so years ago or before, it was expensive to ship out replacement media when there were 'bugs' so QA took a lot stiffer look before release. Now it's so easy to throw out a patch that the pressure to release is greater than the pressure from QA. It's just sad.
I am appreciative to get the patches, but unfortunately, I think it means we have all become beta testers if we buy anything in the first 6 months of release.