Beta? what is it

flyinpc · Post by **flyinpc** » Mon Nov 10, 2008 4:42 am

Hello, I'm New here. Can you explain what a " beta " download is , why i should take it or not. I'm on Vista. Thanks for your help.

TonyT · Post by **TonyT** » Mon Nov 10, 2008 7:17 am

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_r ... life_cycle

Software release stages

The software release life cycle is composed of different stages that describe the stability of a piece of software and the amount of development it requires before final release. Each major version of a product usually goes through a stage when new features are added, or the alpha stage; a stage when it is being actively debugged, or the beta stage; and finally a stage when all important bugs have been removed, or the stable stage. Intermediate stages may also be recognized. The stages may be formally announced and regulated by the project's developers, but sometimes the terms are used informally to describe the state of a product.

ghettoside · Post by **ghettoside** » Mon Nov 10, 2008 7:30 pm

TonyT wrote:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_r ... life_cycle

a stage when it is being actively debugged, or the beta stage; and finally a stage when all important bugs have been removed, or the stable stage.

stay away from beta software unless you know what you're doing.

imho, leave beta s/w to beta testers.