Hardware beta testing really needs to be done before a product is launched to market, because if a manufacturer has to deal with loads of physical returns it will cost a fortune and the device will be considered a dud. So I sincerely hope beta testers don’t have to pay anything. They should be paid.
Software is obviously tested at the same time and a product cannot be launched until there is a stable software platform. Post-launch, many companies have ongoing beta programmes, free for anyone to use and contribute feedback, with the option of rolling back to the latest stable version.
This seems pretty standard and I hope PSA are doing the same thing.
I’m not making any claims of origin, just that was my then experience and I really didn’t hear it used colloquially with any frequency past that time.
It’s astonishing how homogenized by media and travel our nation has become. Even in my youth I remember more regional differences of accent and word choice than I do now. Go back a few generations and it was a much more diverse nation as far as language and “manners” etc. Technology transforms.
As for beta testing, I’m glad I got to be a beta tester for the DMP, but wouldn’t really want to repeat the process. It seems that sometimes PS Audio reaches out to the “community” for testers, and sometimes not. And it probably is good to be that diverse in testing methods—may help produce good results.
It has nothing to do with me, I’m not involved in the Strata beta, don’t know if it is happening yet, or if there will be one. I simply made a joke about it since things got all “serious” and so on.
I do get the sense Paul is trying to not overshare so much or so early, because it can bite you in the butt. If keeping more mum about betas is part of that, I do not know that either.
Thanks, Mark. There will be a Strata Beta as there will be a M1200 beta. The M1200 beta will happen first, near the end of March, the Strata beta should follow one month later.
Yes, and by large chain businesses. It is depressing to be in a hotel, looking out the window, and seeing the same restaurants, home improvement sores, gas stations, etc. 1,500 miles from home.
I was traveling a lot for work when that transition really kicked in. It used to be fun going places in part due to the unique local businesses, restaurants and bars, etc. Then it seemed like the landscape was wallpapered over, and you had to look a lot harder and go further afield to find genuine local color and vibe.
My only point is it is up to PS Audio to determine what Beta testing it does, how it is conducted, whether it is public or private, etc. As I previously stated, we need to be respectful of whatever course they take and let them decide what information is shared and when. We have all seen what happens when information is shared early on and the controversies which erupt.
I’m continually impressed by forums’ abilities generally to create stuff out of thin air or whole cloth to “explain” something that either doesn’t exist or is not happening. Or might be happening. Everything is a conspiracy on the internet.
Not only do people see conspiracies everywhere, they assume everything done and said is motivated by malice.
I should no longer be surprised with how quickly people are offended on the Internet, and their absolute preconception they are somehow being mistreated. But continually surprised I remain.
Beef is pretty good at bringing things back to ground when it gets too serious. I appreciate that quality.
Elk, my main issue was I thought your response was a bit punitive/dismissive and not informative (ex:Beta isn’t typically discussed because…), but it is what it is.
Anyway, I like these distractions, esp when a topic is clipped for knowledge as this one is. I hope the best for Strata and hope to evaluate one to see how it compares to others and to the “small stack” Stellar combo. I have several months to make a decision, so no hurries.
We now return to our regularly scheduled programming…
FWIW, I did think that “please do not discuss beta testing” didn’t scan so well. I assumed you knew something about a change in current PS beta testing company policy that I didn’t. I got the feeling Rudolph thought the same about my post.
Looking forward to the day - but not holding my breath - where, in Forums, we can all see and hear one another in realtime : )
I haven’t mentioned my initial impression of your initial post to you, no. Its not like I don’t get shiz for/ get asked to remove posts for the way I express things on occasion. When you put it out there, it is less about what you meant in your own head than how people scanned it.
Touchy! I understand your Later Explanation of what you intended - I even assumed that was what you meant at the time, to a certain extent. But I was referring to your initial post (portion of which in quotes) and the impression it made on me at the time, just to say…hey….
But - not a big deal. Somewhere below Coronavirus ; )
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