A pre-shipping release of hardware or software that has gone through alpha test. A beta version of software is supposed to be very close to the final product, but, in practice, it is more a way of getting users to test the software in the first place under real conditions. Given the complexity and ambiguous standards in the PC industry, it is impossible to duplicate the myriad of configurations that exist in the real world. See alpha test, beta test, release candidate and dog-food.
 | Reproduced with permission from Computer Desktop Encyclopedia. Copyright (c) 1981-2009 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved. |
Additional Resources
- Why Windows 7 should be free
- Why Windows 7 should be freeAm I the only one who had zero problems with Vista?This issue has been debated thoroughly across zdnet, so I have no desire to rehash it. But I am still not convinced that Vista's problems are systemic...and I think they are more a PR issue....
- Discussion threads 2009-07-01
- Sun xVM VirtualBox 3.0: Virtual Developer's Delight
- Windows 7 Ultimate RC 64-Bit Edition virtualized on Fedora 11, 64-Bit using Sun xVM VirtualBox 3.0 With little fanfare, Sun Microsystems released version 3.0 of xVM VirtualBox, the Open Source and multi-platform desktop virtualization tool for Unix, Linux, Windows and Mac. The new...
- Blog posts 2009-06-30
- With 3.5 launch, Firefox faces new challengers
- With 3.5 launch, Firefox faces new challengersWith 3.5 launch, Firefox faces new challengersInternet Explorer and Firefox are always going to be the two main competing browsers. The rest I wouldn't call challengers against Firefox because they have severe drawbacks. Chrome is not a challenger since its still beta even though...
- Discussion threads 2009-06-30
- Firefox 3.5: Well positioned as mid-sized browser gorilla
- Firefox 3.5: Well positioned as mid-sized browser gorillaFirefox 3.5: Well positioned as mid-sized browser gorillaFinally! It has been released. Now to download and install it. I'll be the first one at work with FF 3.5.Thank god I do not have the same attitudeRegarding your comment "I see no need...
- Discussion threads 2009-06-30
- WinRAR 3.90 beta 4 (Windows)
- WinRAR beta offers 32-bit and 64-bit Windows versions of RAR Archiver, the powerful archiver and archive manager. RAR files can usually compress content 8 to 15 percent more than ZIP or ARJ files.WinRAR's main features include strong general and multimedia compression, the ability to process non-RAR archive formats, long filename...
- Software downloads 2009-06-30
- WinRAR (64-bit) 3.90 beta 4 (Windows)
- WinRAR beta offers 32-bit and 64-bit Windows versions of RAR Archiver, the powerful archiver and archive manager. RAR files can usually compress content 8 to 15 percent more than ZIP or ARJ files.WinRAR's main features include strong general and multimedia compression, the ability to process non-RAR archive formats, long filename...
- Software downloads 2009-06-30
- Do you need more than Windows 7 Home Premium?
- One of the most frequent questions I get these days comes from people who've been running the Windows 7 beta and Release Candidate and are planning to upgrade to the final version when it's available on October 22. "Which edition of Windows 7 do I need?" Most of the feature...
- Blog posts 2009-06-29
- Windows 7: Good enough to pay for?
- Windows 7: Good enough to pay for?The blog title is very interestng.A few years ago such a title "Is Windows Good Enough To Pay For?" would be unthinkable. Of course! We all were in Worship mode - everything MS threw at us even if it was crap we paid for....
- Discussion threads 2009-06-27
- Mac users suffer Safari 4 woes
- Mac users suffer Safari 4 woesNo Mac issues hereIt works well.Now on Windows, Safari is a PIG - memory, CPU, etc.Works great on my MacNo issues to report here. Nice and fast. The new UI changes here and there take a little getting used to. Overall, I'm very satisfied.RE: Mac...
- Discussion threads 2009-06-26
- Mac users suffer Safari 4 woes
- A robust beta doesn't necessarily result in a robust final release. It seems that while the beta version of Safari 4 for Mac was robust and reliable, the final release is causing Mac users a lot of headaches. by Adrian Kingsley-Hughes
- Blog posts 2009-06-26
- Tab Mix Plus 0.3.7.4pre.090516 (Windows)
- Tab Mix Plus enhances Firefox's tab browsing capabilities. It includes such features as duplicating tabs, controlling tab focus, tab clicking options, undo closed tabs and windows, plus much more. It also includes a full-featured session manager with crash recovery that can save and restore combinations of opened tabs and windows.Version...
- Software downloads 2009-06-26
- Firefox 3.5 final prepped to ship early next week
- Firefox 3.5 final prepped to ship early next weekThat's great!While I'm already satisfied with the current speed of FF3, a little speed boost never hurt anyone. I didn't install the beta on any of my machines, but I did try it while running a Fedora 11 Live CD. Even under...
- Discussion threads 2009-06-25
- ZDNet Readers' Choice: Top 25 free, lightweight apps
- ZDNet Readers' Choice: Top 25 free, lightweight appsMissed two but maybe they aren't popularIf you are including Gimp, then how about Google Apps Picasa. This is an excellent free photo organizing program. Google has even put out a Linux beta of this handy program.http://picasa.google.comGoogle Sketchup - a highly...
- Discussion threads 2009-06-25
- Google announces AdSense for Mobile Apps
- Google announces AdSense for Mobile AppsOh great, now there is an "APP FOR THAT"!IF a dev puts advertisments in his app, then they better offer an ad free version for a few dollars. It simply drives me bonkers having a webpage riddled with Fake diet plans, the dancing mortgage rate...
- Discussion threads 2009-06-25
- Microsoft's Windows 7 pricing: Too high, too low, or just right?
- Microsoft's Windows 7 pricing: Too high, too low, or just right?These prices...after Vista? MS has cojones...It's disappointing that Microsoft is charging such outrageous amounts for their operating system for two reasons:1. The Vista debacle...no sign of a "mea culpa" from MS and there likely never will be. So much for...
- Discussion threads 2009-06-25
- Microsoft to Europe: No Windows 7 upgrades for you!
- Microsoft to Europe: No Windows 7 upgrades for you!Here in the US it IS a problem.The US Government convicted MS of the same misdeeds as the EU - only Bush came into power and the punishments were back-heeled - remember the 95% share of the browser market Netscape had?Because they...
- Discussion threads 2009-06-25
- Running Microsoft Security Essentials
- Running Microsoft Security EssentialsI suspect "primitive" was the pointMS has to be able to defend this to the EU. By pointing out that this is meant to be a very basic package and that 3rd party AV vendors can show that, for money, they offer a better product, then everyone...
- Discussion threads 2009-06-24
- Real unleashes video for mobile with Real Player SP
- Real Networks today announced the release of a free upgrade to its popular Real Player application. But the importance of this beta release, called Real Player SP, isnt just about the player itself. It's about the technology that allows it to take video from the Web or a computer and...
- Blog posts 2009-06-24
- What's up with that Microsoft Security Essentials beta build number?
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- Discussion threads 2009-06-23
- Microsoft Security Essentials beta to be capped at 75,000, kicks off today
- Microsoft Security Essentials beta to be capped at 75,000, kicks off todayLast I heard... *edited*OneCare had less false positives then all the other AV/AS software, and scored pretty high in tests.Assuming it's junk just because it's Microsoft kinda makes you look like a... fool.*Edited after realizing I had typed the...
- Discussion threads 2009-06-23
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