New words for new users

cack1229

cack1229

Registered
I am a MAC newbie and just want to know what the term "beta" means. I am reading the newest issue of Macworld and the term comes up fairly often.
 
beta refers to the stage of development of a piece of software. It is usually almost finished and being tested either privately or openly. Such as iChat A/V is a download open to the public but still beta, Safari was also a beta software but went gold or was finished. Alpha is another term you may come across which is a not quite as far along as beta would be.

http://www.aspyr.com/popup.php?p_query=game_status&p_faux=1060309756853 this page on Aspyr's site show the different levels in respect to games :)
 
Programs in the beta stage usually have bugs that the developer has not worked out yet, but it is still usable. It's like if you had a car that was in the beta stage, you could still drive it, but the wipers might not work, or the blinkers might spontaneously change, or the airbags might go off at random. These are issues you'd want worked out before the car was considered a finished product; same with beta software.

Any other questions?
 
Yeah, and actually, the term "beta" is not just for Macs... it refers to software development on any operating system.
 
So, cack, are you a Mac newbie as in a switcher, or a Mac newbie who's new to computers in general?
 
Was he the "Bill" ?

And he never heard about a beta... I start to understand !
 
I think it was a visitor from a distant galaxy and he thought we were the representation of the planet's intelligence.

Good going, guys. You scared him off. :rolleyes:

:D
 
I am sorry I left so quickly...thanks so much for the information. As to the question of whether I am a newbie or a switcher...I am a switcher!! And darn glad about it. Oh, and be the way, I am a "she".
 
Again I am going to show my ignorance...can anyone tell me where I can find a cool avatar to represent me and once it is found how do I use it?
 
To use an avatar, click User CP at the top of any forum page and click on the Avatar option. It should be self-explanatory from there.

I will make an avatar for you if you like. The advantage of this, as you may be able to see, is that you will get exactly what you want and it will be the proper size with no energy on your part. I made the avatars for Unix X11, Krevinek, and of course myself, and I'd be happy to do it for you.

Send me a private message if you'd like me to make you an avatar.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top