[missing-sync-pocketpc-talk] Missing Missing-sync-pocketpc

[David Ramsey]

On Jul 20, 2005, at 3:09 PM, R.I.Pienaar wrote:

> hello,
>
>
>> they would release it before the end of June. Since they did announce
>> this they should drop a line maybe once a week or so and give us an
>> update on their progress.
>>
>
> correct, we have many times said here we do not want a due date,  
> but we want a
> progress report, 1 sentence token reports do not count.  people  
> have been
> understanding and eventhough I think they are the worst customer  
> relationship
> bunch known to man I'll still buy the product when it eventually  
> comes out,
> the very least they can do is show some reciprocating support to  
> their users.

No software company in the world will give users detailed progress  
reports on the development of a new commercial product in a public  
forum. It's terrible business practice both legally and technically  
(legally, because unless you're very careful about what you say, you  
could be giving an implied warranty, and technically, because you're  
giving your competitors an inside look at your development process).

I've been in the software business for more than 20 years and have  
never seen this done.

>
>
>> release and when it's coming.  But I would ask this of them. Why not
>> let those of us who are willing to take the product in beta form and
>> help test it. This would make some of us happy while bide the time
>> until release.
>>
>
> There is a beta program, one that requires you to fax all sorts of  
> NDA's to
> them etc, personally I couldnt be bothered with that.

Well, then, you shouldn't expect to the "bothered" with testing new  
versions of the software.

It would be stupid of Mark Space to put out beta software and solicit  
public comment. You need a formal mechanism for tracking bug reports  
and following through on issues, which is why you have beta programs.  
Throwing a beta product out to the public and trying to deal with  
random e-mail bug reports just doesn't work.

-- David Ramsey