What does "Beta" mean?

Home » General Computing

Before I answer that, I want to make sure you understand what the word "Beta" means. It's not exactly the same everywhere, but as long as the software isn't a Google service, the meaning is fairly consistent.

It means you're going to have problems with it.

"Beta" is "β" the second letter of the Greek alphabet, after Alpha (α).

When used to refer to software, "Beta" is short for "Beta-test" - a period where the software is technically "feature complete" - meaning no new features will be added - and presumably stable enough for most common usages to actually work. (Contrast with "Alpha Test" which happens earlier, and is often not feature complete and even more unstable.)

But note carefully: it's a Beta test - hence it's "Beta software". By definition Beta software is not finished and is known to have bugs, perhaps even serious ones.

Many Beta tests are private, invitation only. The number of users is kept controlled so as to be able to more efficiently control the quality of feedback and to handle the quantity. A private Beta test almost always includes specific instructions for reporting bugs, and getting support.

During a private Beta, "normal" support channels are not used, and will often have no clue as to the specifics of the Beta software.

A "public Beta" is nothing more than the incomplete Beta software released to the public for further testing. Feedback from real-world usage is often very valuable for identifying problems that need to be resolved before the product is finally released. You'll often see a flurry of announcements in the press when a major product goes into public Beta, because then anyone can use it and try it out.

Support for public Betas is typically restricted. The manufacturer may choose the public beta to also test its normal support channels, but quite often that doesn't happen. Beta support is both limited, and typically happens through venues such as support sites or news groups specific to that particular product's Beta test.

The bottom line is that you don't want to rely on Beta software - it will have problems. And as I said, support in resolving those problems will be seriously limited. If you actually plan to use and rely on the software, do not use the Beta version. It will fail. Even if you're lusting after all the new whiz-bang features, you are asking for trouble if you plan to rely on a Beta version of almost any software package. Use the most recently released and fully supported version instead.

Now, if you want to play - if you don't care that things may fail. If you don't care that a bug in the Beta software might crash your computer or wipe out all your information, then by all means, try the Beta. Be careful to fully back up, or use a machine you don't care about and could reformat if the worst happens. Be sure to help the quality of the released product by reporting the problems that you do experience through the recommended channels and as completely as you can. That's exactly what a Beta is for - collecting the problems that real people like you experience, and from there determining which need to be resolved before release.

And then there's Google.

Google has annoyed a lot of people in the industry by leaving products in what many call "perpetual Beta". GMail, for example, has been out for well over a year, it's rock solid (from what I hear and experience), and yet it's still labeled "Beta".

As far as I can tell, "Beta" means something else to Google than it does to the rest of the world. For all intents and purposes, Google apparently treats Beta as a final release.

As a result, most all of my comments above describing the risks of using Beta software actually don't apply if that software from Google and has been out more than, say, a couple of months.

Now, back to your question:

No, I cannot.

Beta software will have problems and the problems will change with each new Beta release. The manufacturer of that software should have provided specific support and problem reporting venues that you should use instead, if you're helping to test the product.

If you're not evaluating the Beta, or helping to test the product, then my recommendation is that you uninstall, and revert to the current released, non-Beta version of the product.

Article 10355 | Posted May 31, 2006