According to my Gmail inbox, I've been on Gmail since June 2004. I wasn't in the earliest wave of subscribers, I know it goes back at least a few months before that. But suffice it to say that 3 years and counting, still calling it a Beta qualifies this as "perpetual beta." Or in the lingo of so many Microsoft detractors, is Gmail really vaporware since it's still in beta and not officially released? I guess since as far as I know, Google never announced a "release" date for Gmail, they at least can't be accused of delaying it. But where are the screaming masses of tech journalists and bloggers clamoring that 3 years is too long for a beta, the way they do when a Windows or office release takes 12 or 18 months in beta?
What does it mean that Gmail is still a beta? What's the possible point or value of calling something "beta" after this long?
Comments