Be Among the First to Try SolidWorks 2007 Join the Beta Program NOW!!

SolidWorks 2007 is due for commercial release this summer, and right now, SolidWorks Corporation is ramping up for its 2007 beta program. The beta program is one of the ways SolidWorks ensures the quality of its software. It’s also an opportunity for you to test the forthcoming SolidWorks® release in your environment. The 2007 beta program begins in April 2006; if you’re eligible, you can sign up at http://beta.solidworks.com. (To find out more on whether you’re eligible, read below.)

“Having more people testing in multiple environments gives us more stable code,” says Adam Perry, beta program manager at SolidWorks Corporation. “It enables us to catch issues earlier, and we also get really good feedback from customers on what features they like, what’s useful, and what’s not as useful.”

How the beta program works

This Xbox 360 gaming and entertainment system could be yours if you score high points in the SolidWorks 2007 beta program.

As a beta tester, you volunteer to test the pre-release beta code of the next version of SolidWorks software. Remember, beta is not an evaluation version, but rather an incomplete version of the software. However, once SolidWorks defines the beta version, it puts a freeze on all new software development at that stage, and only works on resolving user issues. So, by the time of the commercial release, the software is up to snuff and ready for use.

The SolidWorks beta program has grown in leaps and bounds over the years. In the 1999 beta program, only about 300 people took part in the testing. By the 2006 beta program, SolidWorks had more than 5,100 beta testers; and for the upcoming 2007 beta program, the company expects over 6,000 people.

What accounts for the dramatic rise in popularity of the program? Beta parties hosted by resellers (don’t miss these great networking opportunities), prize giveaways for participants, and a growing user base all contribute to the program’s success, according to Perry.

Yes, the number of beta testers is growing, but you won’t be lost in the crowd. All the tracking is automated, while enrollment and submissions are handled via the web.

Here’s how the program works. You get a copy of the beta software to use on your computer. If you identify an issue, you submit a Problem Report through the web at http://beta.solidworks.com. SolidWorks may request additional information to pinpoint the issue. Once SolidWorks validates the problem, a SolidWorks Performance Report (SPR) is issued. It behooves you to generate as many SPRs as possible, because these count toward prize giveaways.

What SolidWorks looks for in a beta tester
Keep in mind that you must be eligible in order to join the beta program.

Here’s what SolidWorks looks for:

• You need to be an existing SolidWorks user on a subscription service. (This gives you a better understanding of the software and what to look for.)

• There’s no minimum for how much time you can spend using the beta program. You can use it as many hours as you like every week, or not at all.

• When you identify an issue, you need to fill out a Problem Report. Once SolidWorks validates the problem, a SolidWorks Performance Report (SPR) is issued. Every SPR counts toward a prize, and you get bonus points for being the first to identify an issue.

• SolidWorks sends occasional emails asking you to try out the “feature of the week” and answer a survey. Doing so allows you to accumulate extra points that count toward prizes.

As a 2007 beta tester, you're eligible to win these Bose QuietComfort 2 Acoustic Noise Canceling Headphones.

What’s in it for you?
Sure, it takes time and energy to be a beta tester. But as a beta tester, you can reap many rewards:

• You become one of the first to learn about the new functionality in the next major release of SolidWorks software.

• You get to make sure that your models work smoothly in the forthcoming issue of the program. If a model fails, you can send it in via the web, and SolidWorks will fix it.

• You have the chance to work directly with SolidWorks technical support staff. (Normally, Value-Added Resellers provide tech support.)

• If you are a SolidWorks Network License (SNL) user, you also get to test any of the add-ins.

• You’ll be the envy of all your coworkers when you show up to work in a free SolidWorks T-shirt with “Beta 2007 Tester” printed on the back. (You get a T-shirt if you accumulate a minimum of 40 points in the program.)

• Accumulate more points and you may be eligible to win a cool prize. For the 2007 beta program, SolidWorks giveaways include an Xbox 360 gaming and entertainment system, Bose QuietComfort 2 Acoustic Noise Canceling Headphones, iPod nanos, and much more.

“We encourage everyone who’s interested to join the program,” says Perry, “especially if you’re thinking of upgrading to the forthcoming version. It’s a great way to try out the new features and the program in your working environment.”

Ready to learn more? Check the beta page of the SolidWorks website for updates on the beta program and for more information.