My 2cents on the expiration date

[ehabich]

Not that it matters anymore very much, but I was intensely annoyed when my version of TodayPlus expired on the 1.1.2004.

I would never install any program with an expiration date, and had srs made it known that TodayPlus was going to expire, then I would not have wasted my 5+ hours in trying to install and configure it.

Not to mention the 2 hours I wasted in doing a complete restore from backup on th 1.1.2004, bbecuase I thought TodayPlus simply had become corrupted (and I thougt a re-install would fix this).

It is a sneaky way to operate, even if the program is declared a "Beta".
It is fine of course to have expiring Betas, but if they are expiring then this fact should be advertised, made known.

At the very least there should be a note in the program that a planned expiration has taken place, instead of the program simply to stop working.

I read srs's comments on the expiration on the 4.4.2004, and that is not very useful what was written there, just plain bad form.

On the 1.1.2004 I switched very quickly to Snoopsofts Today screen, and I haven't looked back.

If you are interested in the weather view on your computer (not PDA) take a look at my freeware screensavers and desktop backgrounds which do not expire at some random date: http://ourplanet.ath.cx/satellite.

[ehabich]

If anyone is interested in using the image shown as a custom Today screen background, you are permitted to do so (Creative Commons licence). Please attribute the image to me, and provide a link back to my site.

I could format a special image to actually fit the today screens...
Contact me via profile

[joelw135]

I thought we were passed this!! I have been a beta tester for many years, and 99% of the companies that I have tested for ie: Microsoft, Symantec, Digital Equipment and many others provide time limited betas. There is a very important reason for this. If you have a beta which doesn't expire you would be providing improper information to the beta group which is outdated, or already fixed in the newer beta. So to have an non expiring beta is shear stupid.

[jhollin1138]

Not that it matters anymore very much, but I was intensely annoyed when my version of TodayPlus expired on the 1.1.2004.

I would never install any program with an expiration date, and had srs made it known that TodayPlus was going to expire, then I would not have wasted my 5+ hours in trying to install and configure it.

Not to mention the 2 hours I wasted in doing a complete restore from backup on th 1.1.2004, bbecuase I thought TodayPlus simply had become corrupted (and I thougt a re-install would fix this).

You only wasted 5 hours and you are complaining about srs including an expiration date in a Beta application.  Some of use have "wasted" more then 5 hours on the subject of the expiration date.

Besides, many of us have been involved in this project, to a certain point, and put more then 5 hours into it.  Not that I am really saying you don't have right to feel the way you do or even voice your opinion on this subject.  Just keep in mind that the total time you invested and contributed (?) in this project is a drop in the bucket compared to many others.

[ehabich]

The only thing which didn't work in that particular beta was "Todo's"  without a start or end date (can't remember which).

I wouldn't even call that a beta, just a regular bug.

Else we'd still be beta testing Windows XP Windows 2000, 98, 95 and 3.1, , which in its latest beta version still hasn't improved security against worms.

Ipaq 3630 with 2000mh battery