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Open letter to Microsoft - Can we have a Windows 7 beta 2 please?

By Adrian Kingsley-Hughes | February 19, 2009, 2:37pm PST

Summary

An Open Letter to Microsoft … I’ve been running Windows 7 beta 1 for now eight weeks and I’ve put this beta thorough a serious workout. I’ve done my bit and tested the OS and submitted feedback, like I’m supposed to. I’ve also had, through unofficial channels, builds that have come after the official beta 1 build 7000 code, and I’ve tested those too. Things look like they are coming quite well. But before we jump to a Release Candidate and start getting caught up in “RTM fever” I’d like to see a beta 2 of Windows 7 please.

Topics

Microsoft Windows 7, Operating System, Feedback, Microsoft Corp., Beta, Beta Tester, Microsoft Windows, Operating Systems, Software, Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

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Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

Biography

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes is an internationally published technology author who has devoted over a decade to helping users get the most from technology -- whether that be by learning to program, building a PC from a pile of parts, or helping them get the most from their new MP3 player or digital camera.

Adrian has authored/co-authored technical books on a variety of topics, ranging from programming to building and maintaining PCs. His most recent books include "Build the Ultimate Custom PC", "Beginning Programming" and "The PC Doctor's Fix It Yourself Guide". He has also written training manuals that have been used by a number of Fortune 500 companies.

Adrian also runs a popular blog under the name The PC Doctor, where he covers a range of computer-related topics -- from security to repairing and upgrading.

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An Open Letter to Microsoft

I’ve been running Windows 7 beta 1 for now eight weeks and I’ve put this beta thorough a serious workout. I’ve done my bit testing the OS (even loading it onto my new Dell Studio XPS 13) and submitted feedback, like I’m supposed to. I’ve also had, through unofficial channels, builds that have come after the official beta 1 build 7000 code, and I’ve tested those too. Things look like they are coming quite well. But before we jump to a Release Candidate and start getting caught up in “RTM fever” I’d like to see a beta 2 of Windows 7 please.

So far we’ve had one official beta and when it comes to something as big and as important as an OS, I really don’t think that one beta is enough. Not only am I curious to see what progress has been made and would like a chance to offer feedback on the changes that have been made as a result of user feedback on beta 1, I want reassurances that the current issues have been solved, and that no more bugs have popped up in the meantime. After all, the beta 1 of Windows 7 shook out a lot of bugs (an awful lot of which still seem to be listed as active …), and while most of these issues were minor, some turned out to be very serious. I don’t want to get to RTM and find similar issues cropping up. I definitely don’t want a repeat of the Vista debacle where I had to wait until SP1 before getting a solid, reliable and stable OS that outperformed the previous version of Windows.

I think that it’s also only fair to point out that there’s a growing level of dissatisfaction among beta testers on many blogs, forums and websites. Some feel that only having one beta limits the amount of feedback they can give on the OS, while others feel that bug reports are falling on deaf ears and being marked as “by design” or “won’t fix” rather than being dealt with. Given how difficult it was (and how much fuss had to be kicked up) to get the serious UAC flaw that Long Zheng uncovered fixed, I have to say I find any sort of hint that feedback isn’t being acted on worrying. There was far too much confusion over what was really a simple issue and I’m almost certain that if there hadn’t been extensive coverage of this issue by the tech media that this flaw would have been marked as “by design” and ignored.

I also feel that the spirit of beta testing has been eroded with Windows 7. Both beta testers on Connect and the public got their hands on the beta 1 bits at pretty much the same time. Experienced beta testers aren’t getting access to any new builds to be able to see progress. The Windows 7 beta test has felt more like a technology preview rather than a proper beta test cycle. Sure, with Windows 7 we got the e7 blog which gave us all a behind the scenes peek at the development process, but at the end of the day it’s the code that matters. I’m worried that beta testers haven’t seen enough official beta code yet to fully test the OS (and the fixes being carried out) under the broadest possible hardware and software configurations.

Getting to see a beta 2 and having the chance to see that our feedback is being acted on (as well as being able to submit more feedback) makes a lot of sense to me. If nothing else, it would be reassuring to Sure, it might push back the release data a bit, but since officially the date has always been a vague 2010, it doesn’t matter.

So, how about a beta 2? It would certainly make me feel reassured that things are truly on track for a great release.

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Adrian Kingsley-Hughes is an internationally published technology author who has devoted over a decade to helping users get the most from technology.

Disclosure

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

All opinions expressed on Hardware 2.0 are those of Adrian Kingsley-Hughes. Every effort is made to ensure that the information posted is accurate. If you have any comments, queries or corrections, please contact Adrian via the email link here. Any possible conflicts of interest will be posted below. [Updated: February 23, 2010] - Adrian Kingsley-Hughes has no business relationships, affiliations, investments, or other actual/potential conflicts of interest relating to the content posted so far on this blog.

Biography

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes is an internationally published technology author who has devoted over a decade to helping users get the most from technology -- whether that be by learning to program, building a PC from a pile of parts, or helping them get the most from their new MP3 player or digital camera.

Adrian has authored/co-authored technical books on a variety of topics, ranging from programming to building and maintaining PCs. His most recent books include "Build the Ultimate Custom PC", "Beginning Programming" and "The PC Doctor's Fix It Yourself Guide". He has also written training manuals that have been used by a number of Fortune 500 companies.

Adrian also runs a popular blog under the name The PC Doctor, where he covers a range of computer-related topics -- from security to repairing and upgrading.

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Talkback Most Recent of 79 Talkback(s)

  • Just curious...
    You call this an "open letter", but have you sent it to anyone at Microsoft? I'm sure you, Ed, and MaryJo have an extensive list of contacts at MS.

    Just won'drin'.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    MGP2
    02/19/2009 03:32 PM

  • ZDNet Blogger

    I don't need to ...
    ... seriously. Posting it here is enough.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    Adrian Kingsley-Hughes
    02/19/2009 03:48 PM
  • That's too bad, because the general look
    and feel of the comments on here is that the fanboys (of which there appear to be legions) simply love everything MS puts out, and that those users, like me, less, or not at all impressed, are in the fringe minority, and the fact that we see Windows 7 as atavistic and less than satisfactory should be completely discounted.

    As I look here (most days), I see the same ten to fifteen responders spreading the MS propaganda of nirvana, and attacking anyone having the temerity to point out flaws or be of dissimilar views.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    chrome_slinky@...
    02/20/2009 05:57 AM
  • I'm curious.
    What About Windows 7 do you find to be a throwback? All OSs are built upon previous code so how is this different for Windows 7 versus OSX or Linux?

    P.S. The purpose of a talkback is to discuss the merits/demerits of the topic. What you see as an attack others might call a debate.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    ShadeTree
    02/20/2009 06:15 AM
  • You have a point, but......
    As you have seen, many here don't really debate. A debate implies reason, facts, and honest opinions. Many responses here are attacks, not debates.

    I myself, with a few deliberate exceptions, can and will reasonable discuss the merits of these topics. The exceptions are reserved for those extreme "fanboys" who don't deserve anything more than what they dish out.

    It's sad that this site site has deteriorated to a flame war forum.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    linux for me
    02/20/2009 06:52 AM
  • Let them spread the propaganda, it will only accelerate m$'s demise
    by removing their focus from really what needs to be done in order to stay in business for the long run.

    In the end m$'s demise can only be good to computer users, i.e., all of us.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    InAction Man
    02/20/2009 06:44 AM
  • I think Adrian's point is that ...
    ... M$ pays attention to what he and Mary Jo write -- not necessarily what the fanfobys write.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    mwagner@...
    02/20/2009 09:56 AM
  • Agree 100%
    Funny you leaving out mister Ed Bott. I'm sure M$ pays **absolutely no attention** to what he writes.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    InAction Man
    02/20/2009 10:56 AM
  • OK, then here's a question for you?
    Is Windows your OS of choice? If not, why do you bother coming to a blog that leaves you "less or not at all impressed"? If your OS of choice is NOT Windows, how about pointing us to some links showing you interacting in blogs of like interests? To me, it looks like you just came here to stir up the pot. It doesn't matter to me. But for the record, I DO NOT go out to Apple blogs and Open Source blogs and toss the negativity around. In fact, check out this post in a Linux blog. You should get an idea of what I do when I hang out in different interests.

    http://talkback.zdnet.com/5208-12355-0.html?forumID=1&threadID=60988&messageID=1122777

    On the other hand, when people come to MS blogs and start their bashing, well, I have no problem taking off the gloves. If you don't believe me, check the link below, which posts to a comment above.

    http://talkback.zdnet.com/5208-12554-0.html?forumID=1&threadID=61043&messageID=1125183

    Some of my better work, if I say so myself. silly
    ZDNet Gravatar
    MGP2
    (Edited: 02/20/2009 12:51 PM)
  • So many words to say nothing
    Quality and quantity, they do tend to display a strange correlation.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    InAction Man
    02/20/2009 02:19 PM
  • I know I should heed my momma's sage advice from years ago...
    She said, "In a war of wits, it's not fair to pick on someone who is unarmed." But I never said I was perfect.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    MGP2
    02/20/2009 02:22 PM
  • To chrome slinky
    Mac os x doesn't have any viruses because there isnt a big enough user base of macs to peek their interest.theres a worm out for mac osx but only one.

    With that said if you are gonna say security is one of windows flaws please consider microsoft issues updates to fix the flaw as soon as they know about the flaw. Windows xp is one of the most secure operating systems right now and I can safely say I have never gotten a blue screen of death with it.

    I am all for an intelligent non apple/microsoft fanboy discussion if you or someone else mentions a flaw not related to security.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    stevehabs
    02/21/2009 12:36 AM
  • That's too bad, because the general look
    chrome_slinky look in the mirror i have seen you do the same thing in several other posts, I like MS BUT I am NOT bias in my opinion of the other OS'S I had A apple laptop and used it for a year didn't like and have used *nix about 5 flavors and didn't like any of them but I did try.

    IMHO Gaxxis
    ZDNet Gravatar
    GAXXIS
    02/24/2009 07:15 AM
  • RE: Open letter to Microsoft - Can we have a Windows 7 beta 2 please?
    /signed
    ZDNet Gravatar
    r0n1n812
    02/19/2009 03:53 PM
  • Windows 7 Ultimate -- Pay more Get MORE
    Windows 7 was turning out to be a great product. But just like Vista, here comes Windows 7 flavors. Windows 7 ultimate won't be available at retail stores and professional version will really suck because it won't include BitLocker, AppLocker, and Boot from VHD. By the way AppLocker and Boot from VHD should be present in all the editions of Windows 7. There will present only in the enterprise and ultimate editions of Windows 7. That's gonna make their enterprise customers happy but when will they learn to make customers happy? they should learn from Apple. What a money hungry and ignorant decision. I have a genuine copy of Vista Ultimate which means I will have to upgrade to Windows 7 Pro and then take out my credit card again and then go online and PAY MICROSOFT AGAIN to unlock Windows 7 Ultimate...By the time Windows 7 will hit retail stores I hope they will make Windows 7 ultimate available at retail stores or I will just move to Mac.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    shellcodes_coder
    02/19/2009 03:59 PM
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