I'd like to elaborate a bit after what Robert and Joe wrote.

> > I can understand your concern about patches being available but
> folks
> > still complaining about the problems. There is one very important
> word used to
> > describe all the problems addressed, BETA. To me this means that it
> is not fully
> > tested and not in general release. That also means that you have to
> call and ask
> > for it. Please understand that some of us are extremely reluctant
> to place ANY
> > beta software on our systems, so until these patches have been
> marked for
> > general release, please do not become disheartened, we do
> appreciate your hard
> > work.
>
> Bob brings up a good point.  All vendors are now releasing "late
> beta" software (meaning that it has been tested --- to a point.  If
> beta software or patches are going to be used, a small crash 'n burn
> machine would probably be in the best interest.
>
> Example:  Microsoft has a defined beta program.  There are 250 people
> who receive "Pre Beta" code, then when the beta starts, that number
> can swell to 10,000, then successive releases are put out to even
> more.  The thing is, we have a crash 'n burn here for the pre beta
> stuff, as sure as God made litte green apples, something catastrphic
> will happen.  Nothing goes on this laptop until it hits Release
> Canadidate status at the very least.
>
> As for HP Beta Patches - our success with them have been favorable...
> one or two bad ones, but for the most part, the beta patch we get
> usually tends to be the one that gets released, or very close to it.
>
> Regards,
> Joe

One HIGHLY SIGNIFICANT item for me is whether the box on which I intend to
install a patch is a production system or some crash-and-burn (Joe's word)
box. If it's production, then the situation is clear : NO BETA !!! If it's
crash-and-burn, beta software is welcome.

Bottom line : I have a crash-and-burn box on which I'm willing to test many
things. Then I can tell my customers to install this and this, but stay
away from that and that. Net result is that I bring my customers some very
significant technical information. And they love to be taken care of.

Today, I ordered from the French Support Center patches NSTFDD9 (5.5) and
NSTFD97 (6.0). There are a few enhancements in these that I'd like to test.

Soooooo... Jim, please do not be too disappointed by what seems like a lack
of response, and continue the hard work. Someone out there is willing to
use it.

Take care,

Christian