Hi technopersons!

This isn't a request for technical help, instead just a general query...

My Homepage recently updated to Beta Version, Amazon and some other websites I visit regularly have done the same.

I haven't really noticed much difference.

What is this 'Beta Version' to mean to a layperson like myself?

(Is it short for Better Version?)

Originally posted by Deavon
Hi technopersons!

This isn't a request for technical help, instead just a general query...

My Homepage recently updated to Beta Version, Amazon and some other websites I visit regularly have done the same.

I haven't really noticed much difference.

What is this 'Beta Version' to mean to a layperson like myself?

(Is it short for Better Version?)

A beta (pronounced 'beeeeeeeeeeeeter') is a version of something that is under testing or construction. However, people will volunteer to test the beta version of whatever it happens to be, out.

Maybe it's the browser that has changed to 'beta' version, as I can't imagine individual websites bringing out something worthy of testing...

or...

it's prob gonna go wrong...but we will release it anyway and see how it goes.


maybe windows xp shud still be called 'beta' :rolleyes:

Originally posted by MTheo
or


maybe windows xp shud still be called 'beta' :rolleyes:

There are certainly a lot of volunteers if XP is a beata - ;)

As already stated it's software that it still in development but has been released/published for testing purposes.

Originally posted by fnkysknky
As already stated it's software that it still in development but has been released/published for testing purposes.

Yeah I know - :D

That's what I said - ;)

Oh. OK, thank you. I had been reading the Vista thread and there was lots of mention of it on there... I thought it was a new programme language or something.

Dumb as paper me.

Not sure how appreciated it'll be but my personal advice regarding beta versions is unless you're extremely PC savvy, don't bother... Cos most of them are full of untold amount of bugs that can cause no end of problems for your computer etc... :rant:

the 'alpha' release is the first - and usually tested in house.

a beta test is usually released to a beta test group of invited indivduals who will be used to find the deeper bugs. Usually these will be experienced developers/software power users. Sometimes you will get a public beta, where the whole world is invited to do their work for them....

named after letters of the greek alphabet - Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta etc.

I thought it meant it was beta than any other versions :P