Should Windows Insider Program be replaced with Microsoft Insider Prog

billy268 said:

Gabriel Aul asks us to vote on the suggestion.

How to make a sensible vote without knowing the details of Microsoft Insider Program?
What else do we test ?

Office 365 would, of course, be one of the products tested. Let's see . . . there's Sway, OneDrive, Skype, to mention a few.

billy268 said:

Do we get the product free for testing ?

When I joined the Office 365 Technical Preview, I was required to own a subscription to Office 365. Much later, about 2/3 of the way through the Preview, when the public was allowed to participate, Microsoft let them have trials of O365.

OneDrive, Sway and Skype are either included in O365 or free.

billy268 said:

What are the requirements we must adhere to if we agree to test the products ?
etc etc etc etc etc....................

Requirements would be that you'd sign an NDA (Non Disclosure Agreement) in order to participate. That means it couldn't be discussed outside the Networks/Groups set up for each software product tested. Within the O365 Network, once the public Preview started, we could discuss what we tested, but certain things revealed within that network were off limits for discussion outside Yammer.

Microsoft is hard nosed about leakers, pirates and MS impersonators too! If one is caught leaking information, pirating or pretending to be an employee, there's no second chance. They'll be out of the program for good and will never get back in.

There was a beta tester who had a bright future, but he conned a Microsoft employee into setting up an email account; an @Microsoft account! Then he started claiming to be a Microsoft employee. When our PM (Program Manager) got wind of it, he was gone in a flash! There was another one who was pirating Microsoft products; needless to say he was turned in and gone forever too.

So, the rules are stringent, but not hard to follow as long as you remain honest.

sneekez said:

Well if the software they develop would be included in an "Insideresque" type of presentation I can see that as realistic.

I'm not sure how it would play out, but I don't see how Microsoft would be able to give away subscriptions, even trial subscriptions of around six months, away to the masses. It just wouldn't be prudent at this point.

Right now, Windows is more or less free to genuine Windows 7 & 8 users, so if they gave away O365 too, my thoughts are that it would be more than their financial department would be able to take. :)

As a subscriber to both Office Home (sub ended 8/31/15) and ProPlus (sub started around 5/2015), other than the addition of Skype for Business and OneDrive for Business, there's not very much difference, if any.

What I can see happening is that corporations would let their employees subscribe to O365 personal (and maybe reimburse them) and only subscribe to S4B and OD4B; thus, save a ton of money. And Microsoft would be the loser.

Talk about yer greedy users . . .

billy268 said:

It's not about greed.
Why should anyone spend money for a product that is meant to be tested ?
Where is the incentive to test Microsoft products ?

Fun.. some people just like to help out and test software.. I know I do and there are many like me.

billy268 said:

If you have money to burn.

So.. it's my money. Why would you care?

billy268 said:

It's not about greed.
Why should anyone spend money for a product that is meant to be tested for Microsoft ?
Where is the incentive to test Microsoft products ?

My incentive isn't based on free software; that's been gone for awhile now, except for Windows 10. I test for a number of reasons:

1. I love to learn new things.
2. I love to use software before it's largely available.
3. I love to be instrumental in growing new products.
4. I love to get a leg up and already be familiar with the product before it's released.
5. Because of #4, I can help my friends and neighbors when they finally get it.
6. There are many more reasons, but I won't bore folks with those.
7. Well, maybe I will . . . This group of helpful members is a real incentive to test!