Nowhere in my post did I say that I wanted to be part of a closed beta. The fact alone that there is still an "active ongoing beta program" (as a recent comment, as opposed to the dated one) would have made me feel as though there was at least hope to get a working driver in this decade, and would have mollified me. You've said nothing of substance for some time until now.jwick wrote:I am not sure why you guys think posts like these will help get you into what is a very active ongoing beta program. Unfortunately, I have to tell you, they don't help your cause. I read every post someone makes before sending an invitation..
My issue is that six months ago you said that this closed beta would become an open beta, that this would be part of the next 3Dxware release. Your having said that implies a reasonable amount of time, as six months is an eternity in software. (Just look at Aut*desk's 1 year turn around on their products.) I have every right to expect that the hardware vendor would support the product I paid for (in reference to those new ones purchased before I moved to used ones), or at least pay me the respect to keep me informed. That doesn't cost you anything at all, and doesn't mean you have to divulge anything that would violate NDAs.
And I'm not sure why you can't understand why users like me are extremely unhappy, to the point of being bitter. All it takes is a post saying that development is ongoing, or that timelines are extended, that the goal is to have something in the next X days/months, barring unexpected delays, which you'll update in Y days/months. Again, you don't have to say anything concrete, nor provide details. Putting on a cloak of secrecy makes you seem arrogant, removed, and uncaring about your users.
I appreciate their input also, and hope that the final product will be all supernovas and fairy dust. Not everyone has the time to be contributory, and I don't what's wrong with my desire to have functional product. I'd have bought two more SPPs if they were. (And new, if the support was worth it.)jwick wrote:Many other people who have positively contributed to this forum are now actively helping to shape the software for their own use. We greatly appreciate their input and respond personally to every suggestion they make.
What a beta tester has to say isn't relevant to me. YOU are the developer. They could all be tickled pink about it, and you could not release it for another six months because there's a chance that the driver will crash on a Commodore 64, or not work the first version of AutoCAD.jwick wrote:They are all under NDA. They can't respond to you.
And it's a terrible shame that I'm coming to loathe its developer. I actually quite like having good relationships with my vendors. I've had terrific dealings with support from companies like S*ny, Panas*nic, Sams*ng, Micr*s*ft, and others. Not because they gave me anything, or did something unexpected. They were prompt, professional, and as soon as I expressed displeasure, they asked what they could do, not implied that I wasn't "helping my cause". The only thing that does is costs you customers... which, last time I checked, is what companies require to exist.jwick wrote:We do appreciate the enthusiasm you have for your 3D mouse.