In one way or another, many software makers carry out these teaser releases. Opera is running one on their 9.0. Firefox is running one on their 2.0 (Cybernet has even made that portable so that you can test it without dirtying your machine's precious registry or system files), Microsoft has their IE7.

We have of course, the Microsoft Windows Vista Beta, (discussed on this blog), and the Microsoft Office 2007 Beta. When you do sign up for Office 2007 Beta, look around and you'll see the kitchen sink syndrome. There's Visio Pro 2007, Project 2007, OneNote 2007 and a new member to the Microsoft fold - Groove. (For those of you who haven't seen the light, say the words with me - Lotus Notes - Ray Ozzie - Groove - Ray Ozzie - Windows Live). Not to forget the Expressions trio. If you decide to put on your other hat, you can also play sysadmin and run Project 2007 Server, Sharepoint 2007 Server or Groove Server.

Then. there are betas that you don't need to install to test, like the Google Spreadsheet (and other Web 2.0 apps that run in your browser). They're not for you to buy though, they're for GMY (Google-Microsoft-Yahoo) to Venture-Capitalise.

So what do you need to join in the fun? Well, it would be nuts to install all that on your working, production PC. But some people do. Another PC would be good. Trouble is, do you have another machine as good as the one you're using because, you'll need that to run Vista. Either that or wear your removable hard disk rails down to the bone as you swap vigorously. The other betas, you might be able to coax into running in an Altiris SVS layer. Or VMWare Player. Both free.

On the other hand, you could just run whatever is your current Standard Operating Environment. That, some wicked people say is always in beta.

By the way, this is being written by a new Toadie.
Truly
Ananda Sim
Ancora Imparo - abbiamo tutti qualcosa da imparare