As a Microsoft beta tester, I'm forced to use the 1995'esque (lynx optimized) Beta Place and/or the halfhearted Connect sites to manage program acceptance and feedback. Dumb. Dumb ditty dumb ditty dumb-dumb-dumb. Nobody should be leaving ANY kind of constructive feedback in a newsgroup anymore, neither in a Web-based forum nor through a mildly-antequated NNTP hierarchy. Empower the community, don't just placate it. Here's the kicker: Microsoft already has a better product, and it's already using it – but only in a limited fashion. This is a call-to-arms for all Microsoft software beta testers on the planet: we must all start using “Ladybug” for all future beta software releases. Strongarm your contacts to steer directly into its headlights. As suggested by another annoyed supporter, Brandon Bloom [sic]:

A friend of mine whom just completed a Microsoft internship just extended me an invite to beta IE7 and Windows Vista. I installed IE7, but promptly performed a system restore because the Microsoft Connect web site is an embarrassment. It made it virtually impossible to submit feedback and I refuse to run IE7 (which is hideous) without providing feedback. Not only is connect.microsoft.com a poor rehash of the MSDN Product Feedback Center, but it forces you to use a stand alone newsgroup reader when Microsoft has access to a superb web based newsgroup reader on MSDN! Please go talk to these people and convince them to use this MSDN Product Feedback Center for IE7 and Longhorn bugs (and all other MS software for that matter). This site is significantly superior. Microsoft is wasting its precious mind power on re-inventing the wheel constantly.

His proposed solution? “Use MSDN Product Feedback Center for all Microsoft software, especially programs under heavy development such as IE7 and Vista.” I agree, entirely and completely. So, what say you, Vista and IE7 teams? Are you ready to manage your programs more effectively with a proven-useful Microsoft product? Allow me to provide more feedback on feedback…