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Microsoft Lays Off 62 Windows Testers

By Nate Mook, BetaNews

January 20, 2005, 4:33 PM

Despite Windows Longhorn development being ramped up in preparation for Beta 1, Microsoft has given pink slips to 62 internal beta testers. Microsoft says the layoffs, which affect the company's Windows division, are the result of a push towards more automated testing environments and not outsourcing.

According to a Seattle Times report, Microsoft didn't give much notice; the company contacted employees last Tuesday and Wednesday, and the layoffs took effect by Friday. Testers can choose to stay on the Redmond campus for an additional six weeks, but must find another job within that period.

Rumors have been circling that Microsoft is sending some testing jobs overseas, but company representatives deny the correlation saying new technology allows Microsoft to automate tasks that previously required personnel.

Jupiter Research senior analyst Joe Wilcox, however, questions the decision.

"Automated testing might appear good, if viewed as the most cost-effective approach. But when evaluating a new operating system and all the interaction with different hardware and software products, I would want to use live testers," Wilcox told BetaNews.

This month's round of layoffs are not the first cuts Microsoft has made to its testing pool. The company axed 93 test positions in its Windows Server division last September.

"I find the timing of the layoffs to be perplexing, considering that Microsoft has yet to release anything close to a beta version of Longhorn," Jupiter's Wilcox added. "I would think the time is rapidly approaching when the most Windows testers would be needed."

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By rockfordfiles@sbcglobal.net

edited Oct 2, 2007 - 4:25 PM

I see from time to time emails saying you can get paid for beta testing of new products being released by Microsoft.

How do I sign up for that and how do I get paid?
Mike Rockford

Score: 0

By ygmt13

posted Jan 26, 2005 - 2:34 PM

listen-about what gawd said, about beta testing-maybe it is the way to go for microsoft-and if your a beta tester-ur not relly paid. thousands of pppl test for microsoft. bill gates cant just throw away money he could use on enhancing his product for more customers on 62 more employees.

p.s. how can i become a beta tester? iv been tryin to find out and its really bugging me

Score: 0

By fewt

posted Jan 23, 2005 - 6:13 PM

They must have found all the bugs.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

;-)

Score: 0

By Wasted_Elmo

posted Jan 25, 2005 - 2:17 AM

seems they are not doing there jobs right if they let them go

i guess this is y we got so many problems with windows they thought the beta testers were the problem they had to much fun testing the product and not to much bug reports being sent.

Score: 0

By gawd21

posted Jan 20, 2005 - 7:19 PM

Come on. I was just sticking up for them too. I am a beta tester for MS. I don't understand why they would drop beta testers, they really need more!

Score: 0

By rijp

posted Jan 24, 2005 - 11:33 AM

Maybe they sucked, maybe Microsoft found a better way, or maybe they hired 1,000 more in a different area..

Either way, we are talking about 62 lousy people. That is hardly anything to write home about. Maybe they were students, but it was a short term project, maybe a lot of things..

Maybe its really none of your business to know. Does it affect you? NO. So don't worry about it.

Score: 0

By ogman

posted Jan 24, 2005 - 10:12 PM

Maybe you're an idiot! It effects all of those who use their badly tested, buggy software. Fact is, they probably outsourced the positions and just don't want the PR hit. Either way, all but sycophants like you should be concerned.

Score: 0

By ygmt13

posted Jan 21, 2005 - 3:20 PM

i think its a terrible thing, although gawd, is there a way to become a tester? iv been tryin to for over a year.

Score: 0

By roflmoose

posted Jan 21, 2005 - 3:46 AM

The article is misleading. These aren't "beta" testers like you. They are either Software Test Engineers or Test Associate positions who are paid to test the software. Not just given freebie copies to "test" like you.

There is a big difference between a "beta tester" and a real tester, but most people don't understand that difference. Most of the testing done on windows is automated. The people are there to run the automation. There are few things that need to actually have a person at the machine waving the mouse around.

Score: 0

By bourgeoisdude

posted Jan 21, 2005 - 10:42 AM

The Engineer and "internal beta testers", as I recall, are referred to as Alpha testers, right?

Score: 0

By gawd21

posted Jan 21, 2005 - 8:25 PM

Yes!

Score: 0

By surfbum4fun

posted Jan 20, 2005 - 7:49 PM

I use windows server03 for work,but at home and on my laptops,it's linux all the way. There are plenty of Beta testers with Linux. it's called Open Source

Score: 0

By Black-Wolf

posted Jan 20, 2005 - 9:52 PM

Obviously those people weren't working that's why we got a crappy product.

Score: 0

By Toasted8x

posted Jan 21, 2005 - 6:41 PM

I guess that the upcoming updates from Microsoft will have more bug, I would think.

Score: 0

By Bruce_Bach

posted Jan 24, 2005 - 7:26 PM

I would have to say since Win 95 we all have been beta testers.
Now it's at the point when you get a system crash it even askes you if you would like to send this information to MS, others are jumping on that bandwagon too. It is a good idea after all.

It sucks that anybody loose their job but if all it takes is for the janitor to walk in and hit the light switch and all these automated testers go to work, why spend the money on personnel. Especially when they know we will give all the feedback they need. I guess they will need to have a fairly high tech janitor to read the test results though. LOL

I stopped using any MS OS until at least SP2 for just that reason. I may load them up and play with them but as far as everyday use, no way.

Score: 0

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