quitting beta because of fees

hi there,

i'd be willing to help out with the Mac beta, but i dont want to start paying for it at this stage, especailly since teh game runs so slow on a new machine (AlBook 1.25GHz G4, 512MB RAM, 5200 RPM HD, ATi 9600 64B).

Can't you just buy a $10.00 Basic account? No monthly fee, cheap as chips.

Make sure to lower your Draw Distance settings, among other things, in Preferences, Options tab. Also, get the $10 one-time fee, it's great.

I'll help bug hunt, but I'm got a fairly sick machine on a fast connection, and the framerate just isn't that good. I'm not willing to pay for it at this point.

Even if Mac users were to get free accounts until it goes out of beta, that would be something--but I'm not inclined to pay to be a tester.

fwiw, I would be happy to have a bug reporting requirement to make this worthwhile for everyone involved.

I think the important thing to remember is SL the game isn't beta, just the Mac client. You're paying to access the game, and the client is free.

If all the Mac users were on their own grid I could definately see a case for it being free. (And I could see some people rejoice but they will be first against the wall when the revolution comes. ;)

Here's the deal. Basically, Second Life itself is NOT beta, it's only the Mac version that's beta.

As for choppyness on the Mac, try lowering your Draw Distance (control + P, Options tab, Lower Draw Distance).

From what I've heard from the developers, the Mac version is totally not optimized for the mac, but it will be soon,.

Ok.. I figure it this way.. I've had a ball and have used SL around 10 hours in 2 days. Granted it's not perfect, and there are bugs etc.. but hey.. where else are you going to get entertained for 1$ an hour.. movies are 8$ for 2 hours.. 4$ an hour, Rental is 6$ for 2 hours.. 3$ an hour + equipment.
Fl=1$ an hour for the 1 time fee.. and it goes down from there after the first week.

I"m on an 800 mhz powerbook, and I have everything... everythinnnnng turned down or off, and I'm still enjoying it enough to pay the $10 one time fee. when the optimizations come, and they will, this is gonna be even more awesome.

Exactly!

Also Mac users' know it is RARE that an online game supports us at all.

Though not yet where it needs to be, SL Beta is workable enuff for me to plunk down more cash for next quater's fees.