One solution is to post new software/firmware as "BETA TEST ONLY." If you're
up to it, download the software and be part of a group
who is willing to test drive it and record and report any imperfections to
Ten-Tec. I suggest that Ten-Tec place a conspicuous
disclaimer on beta releases that by downloading the beta software, "user agrees
to use such software at his or her own risk and user
further agrees to indemnify Ten-Tec from any actual, consequential or
incidental damages." In fact, this language should accompany
ALL software/firmware downloads. Once Ten-Tec receives reasonable confirmation
that the software/firmware is working, they would
move it from beta to safe download status. Seems pretty simple to me.
Paul, W9AC
----- Original Message -----
From: "WA3FIY" <wa3fiy@radioadv.com>
To: <tentec@contesting.com>
Sent: Monday, August 26, 2002 3:39 PM
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Jupiter firmware problems.
> What am I missing here? I see a company that is dedicated
> to delivering exceptional radios at a fair price and then, for no
> additional charge, improving the product and delivering the
> result over the Internet for immediate use. And what
> happens? They miss something in the testing of an update and
> get trashed for it!!!! I don't get it?
>
> If we were paying an annual fee of substantial amount for the
> updates, then maybe we could expect the quality performance
> of, say Microsoft, or something. But the last time I looked, I
> have not yet received a bill from Ten Tec for any of my
> updates.
>
> If, after I put an update on my radio and it did not work to
> expectation and I was stuck, I would likely be a little upset.
> But the last time I looked, I could go back to my previous
> version in less time than it takes to reboot my wonderful and
> costly and bug free Microsoft product.
>
> If Ten Tec released an update with bugs and then ignored the
> customer feedback that resulted, I would be in a position to
> say they are developing a bad reputation for buggy software.
> But the last time I looked, Ten Tec responds to bug reports in
> a very timely fashion.
>
> I think of this as a sort of Linux model. Ten Tec releases
> software over the Internet at no charge to the customer. As
> far as they know, it works OK. BUT.....................when the
> software is released, there are now hundreds of testers
> pushing and poking and finding things that their few testers
> did not come across. The findings are posted to TT and they
> make appropriate changes and release a fix or two on the
> Internet. The process repeats and pretty soon we have some
> pretty nice software [I probably should have been saying
> firmware]. I have read that Linus sometimes released several
> updates to Linux a day during the formative years. Users
> would download the latest and promptly find something Linus
> missed. Last time I looked, he did not have a reputation for
> producing bad software. In fact, I have some of his work
> running here that has been running 24/7 for several years
> without a single hiccup. Not bad for someone who often made
> several releases in one day!!!
>
> Anyway, I think of us as part of the process and I'm very
> happy to add my two cents worth when I find something. I
> sure hope we do not become part of the problem.
>
> For those who are really incensed by a buggy release, why not
> just wait a day or two to see how it goes? If it has some bugs,
> don't install it. If it is clean, have at it.
>
> Someone said here that TT is on the leading edge of software
> defined radios. I agree. They have a learning curve to climb
> and I for one hope we will help them up that curve not drag
> them down.
>
> So, what am I missing?
>
> -73-
>
> -Lee-
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