Skype beta = toxic PC timebomb!
Before anyone lectures me, I already know that a “beta” label means that a product is not fully ready and you should expect some bugs, but come on. If a company wants users to test a beta product, they should at least ensure that the thing works on a basic level. It should at the very least run without crashing the user’s computer. Unfortunately the new Skype beta doesn’t even fulfill this very basic simple requirement.
I was recently forced to downgrade to the current stable version (the first time I have ever had to downgrade my Skype) because the current beta version is, to put it mildly, a toxic time bomb on the computer. Let’s look at what the new Skype beta does :
- When someone calls, Skype freezes. When you do CTRL-ALT-DEL, the computer crashes (thank God for voice mail)
- When you are talking to someone, the sound quality is atrocious. It sounds like a farting elephant (not that I have ever heard a farting elephant so I am just guessing here).
- When you are talking to somebody, Skype drops the call and disconnects you. This happens in EVERY call (good way to get nuisance callers off the phone I guess).
- When you start up the Skype beta, the computer crashes (Microsoft must be buried in unread error reports by now).
Now get this. When the current stable version is installed, the 4 problems mentioned above DISAPPEAR.
As I said, I know that a beta product is meant to be buggy and not perfect. But when it can’t even work on a basic level, are users really getting anything out of it?
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