12-10-2006 07:49
Ok, so, I read Jeska's blob post about the 'New Version' and decided, despite swearing never again to waste my time in beta reporting bugs that STILL get released, to look, morbid curiosity I guess!

8 people on the entire preview grid, 5-9%+ PL, nearly 1000kbps download after standing still for 5 minutes (not a lot of option there really), and what precisely is there to test? Some of the most annoying bugs currently extant are ISLAND/ESTATE bugs - there are no obvious island/estates in Preview. HELLO! IS THIS GETTING THROUGH?

Calling THAT a test facility is a joke.


But. Wait. It gets worse. Logged, did some RL stuff on the computer, ate dinner, came back to the computer and logged in to the main grid - to a SL where at irregular intervals SL - OR OTHER PROGRAMS RUNNING IN THE BACKGROUND - would freeze the computer. Now the grid has been crap for a long time now, but this was something else, I was on my island so checking what was going on was pretty easy and it appeared it wasn't grid related. So, maybe I picked up something nasty earlier?
Out with the virus scanners, spyware detectors (such fun this, scanning over a terrabyte of data...) and registry scanners.
Several HOURS later, with absolutely nothing found, I'm back in SL and STILL having trouble.
So, a stiff drink and a bit of thought later I figure it's time to start removing recently installed programs....
OK, you all know what's coming don't you?
Yup, the LAST program I installed was the Beta client. I uninstalled it, ran SL and everything worked, er, well, hardly perfectly, considering this is possibly the worst ever 'update' LL has ever inflicted on its paying customers, but certainly no worse than it did BEFORE I was stupid enough to install Beta.

Do you have any idea of the tooth grinding RAGE this induces?
First Torley comes over all School-marmish and condescending about us silly little 'Resis' complaining about crap updates and yet not helping LL beta test.
Then Jeska shows up all perky and full of it about a 'New Version' - let's be honest Jes, it's NOT a new version, its a patch update which may. or may NOT fix some of the issues created by the last 'New Version' disaster.
Then, foolishly I admit, I actually waste my time downloading, installing and trying out the beta - and what does it do?
Completely wrecks the current release and involves me in around 5 hours of wild goose chases trying to find out what's gone wrong with my PC!

I'll omit the usual comments about the abilities of LL at this point - after all, anyone can draw the obvious conclusions...

However, IF you were thinking of Beta testing, on a test grid with 7 other AVs and no islands/estates. take heed and if problems like mine emerge, suspect the beta first!