The Solidworks 2009 Beta Release is now available for download through the Solidworks Customer Portal on the Solidworks website. The Beta teasing is scheduled to be shorter this year than for the previous year because Solidworks noticed people lost interest over such a long duration of Beta testing. This year’s program will shrink down from a 15 week period to an 8 week program. The Solidworks 2009 Beta test program is set up so that Solidworks users across a variety of industries can help to make the final build of the Solidworks 2009 software as good as possible when it is finally released. This year the Beta program will be available to everyone via the Solidworks Customer Portal on the Solidworks website instead of the special Solidworks Beta link. Some incentive for being part of the Solidworks 2009 beta test program is that Solidworks gives points for every glitch and bug found in their software. After, Solidworks gives away free stuff to people with a lot of points.
From Email:
Dear valued SolidWorks Customer, Please forward this email to any other interested parties within your company. SolidWorks Corporation is pleased to announce the SolidWorks 2009 Beta Program.This is an important step in our next major release — SolidWorks 2009 and we request your support and participation in Beta.
SolidWorks 2009 is open to all customers with current subscription service. Access to SolidWorks 2009 Beta 1, as well as related information, is available in the download section of the Customer Portal: https://www.solidworks.com/pages/services/downloads.html .
NOTE: To access this hyperlink, you will need your Customer Portal login. If you do not have a Customer Portal login, you may create one by clicking the “to create an account, click here” hyperlink.Or, if you do not have your existing Customer Portal login, you may:
Please note: SolidWorks 2009 Beta 1 does not support the Microsoft® Vista™x64 operating system. This will be supported in SolidWorks 2009 Beta 2 and later releases.
Regards
SolidWorks Product Management
This is a commercial email to promote the products or services of SolidWorks Corporation.
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SolidWorks Corporation
300 Baker Avenue
Concord
MA, 01742
USA
Tel: 800-693-9000
+1-978-371-5011
Outside the US and Canada
Email: contentcentral2@solidworks.com
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From the Solidworks website:
Beta FAQ’s
- Why does SolidWorks have a Beta program?
- To get your feedback and test drive the new features with your data.
- Insure the new version performs well with the way your organization uses SolidWorks.
- Why would I participate in a Beta program?
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- Try the next release of SolidWorks.
- Get feedback on your designs and how they work in the next release.
- Get cool prizes.
- Be recognized in the community.
- Submit issues early during Beta.
- How long does the program and each Beta last?
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- There will be three Beta versions (Beta 1, Beta 2, and Beta 3) and will last 8 weeks.
- Beta 1 (4 weeks).
- Beta 2 (2 weeks).
- Beta 3 (2 weeks).
- Is activation required? How do I find out more information about activation?
- Yes, SolidWorks 2009 requires activation. For more information, click here.
- If I transfer the license for Beta 2009 to another machine will it affect my SolidWorks 2008 installation?
- Yes, if you transfer the your Beta 2009 license, you will also transfer the SolidWorks 2008 license as well.
- Who is eligible for Beta?
- All SolidWorks Customer’s that have an active subscription service contract and a Customer Portal login that is associated with their account are eligible to participate in the SolidWorks 2009 Beta program. Please select the My Products link on the Customer Portal home page for your SolidWorks Serial number.
- Should I install this on a machine running SolidWorks 2008?
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Yes, during the installation of SolidWorks 2009 Beta you will be asked to install your Common Files (Hole Wizard and Toolbox) in a different file location than your current production Common Files (Hole Wizard and Toolbox). This process above will ensure that you do not update your current production Toolbox accidentally to the SolidWorks 2009 version.
- Should I use Beta for production?
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- No, you should use a copy of your product data for Beta testing. Per the End User License Agreement “EULA” you should not be testing SolidWorks 2009 Beta in your production environment.
- Can I submit an issue to the Beta Forum and still have Beta points applied?
- No, only issues that are submitted through the customer and VAR portal can have Beta points assigned to them.
- Why are my Beta points not shown on my Beta home page after I have received confirmation from Beta support that I had points assigned to me submitted issue?
- The My Beta points area of the Beta Home page is not updated until the following business day.
SolidWorks 2009 Beta Contest Term’s and Conditions
Terms and Conditions
NO PURCHASE IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR TO WIN. ALL FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL AND MUNICIPAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS APPLY. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.
TERM
SolidWorks 2009 Beta (the “Contest”) will begin at 9:01 AM (EST) on June 9th, 2008, and all qualifying entries must be received by 4:59 p.m. (EST) on August 1, 2008 (the “Contest Period”).
ELIGIBILITY
The Contest is open to those who are 18 years of age or older and have a valid subscription service ID at the time of entry. Employees of SolidWorks and their immediate family members, and any persons domiciled with such employees, are not eligible to participate. Void where prohibited or restricted by laws, local and national, regarding contests (e.g., Québec, Brazil).
PRIZES
Once the 2009 Beta program concludes on August 1th 2008, all contestants’ beta points will be tallied. The beta contestants with the highest overall beta points will be awarded the contest prizes per category. Prizes will be awarded as follows:
1 Overall Point Winner: 1st Ribbon Ultimate Gift card valued at $500.00 + Prize Ribbon Treasure Gift card worth $100.00 USD
2nd Ribbon Ultimate Gift card valued at $500.00 USD
3rd Ribbon Ultimate Gift card worth $500.00 USD
4th – 6th Place Prizes Ribbon Elite Gift card worth $300.00 USD
7th – 10th Place Prizes Ribbon Luxury Gift card worth $200.00 USD
11th-20th Place Runner Up Prizes Beta Laptop bag worth $45.00 USD and SolidWorks Tumbler worth $10.00 USD
1 Top Beta Tester in Beta 1 Period: Ribbon Ultimate Gift card valued at $500.00USD
1 Top Beta Tester in Beta 2 Period: Ribbon Ultimate Gift card valued at $500.00USD
Overall Beta Point Winner for a VAR/TTM or Partner:
1st Place Prize: Ribbon Ultimate Gift card valued at $500.00USD
2nd Place Prize Ribbon Elite Gift card worth $400.00 USD
3rd Place Prize Ribbon Luxury Gift Card worth $300.00 USD
4th Place Prize Ribbon Treasure Gift card worth $100.00 USD
5thPlace Prize Ribbon Treasure Gift card worth $100.00 USD
Beta Simulation Contest Prizes:
1st Place Prize Ribbon Elite Gift worth $500.00 USD
2nd Place Prize Ribbon Luxury Gift card worth $400.00 USD,
3rd Place Prize Ribbon Treasure Gift card worth $300.00 USD
SolidWorks reserves the right to substitute prizes with a prize of comparable or greater value in the event the item listed above is not available in the country of origin of the winner. All federal, state, municipal, and local taxes, if any, are the sole responsibility of the individual winner. Winners have the option to refuse acceptance of any prizes won.
PROMOTIONAL PERIOD
The SolidWorks Beta contest will run with the start of SolidWorks 2009 Beta 1 program on June 9th , 2008 at 9:00AM (E.ST). SolidWorks 2009 Beta 1 will conclude on July 04 th, 2008 at 6:00PM (E.ST). SolidWorks Beta 2 program will begin on July 07th, 2008 at 9:00AM (E.ST) and conclude on July 18th ,2008 at 6:00PM (E.ST). SolidWorks Beta 3 will begin on July 21th, 2008 at 9:00AM (E.ST).
This contest will conclude with the SolidWorks 2009 Beta 3 program on August 1th, 2008 at 4:59PM (EST), prior to the public release of the SolidWorks 2009 Pre-Release version. All problem reports submitted prior to the 4:59PM EST closing time will be eligible for points in the contest. In Order to earn Beta points a contestant must submit an issue pertaining to the SolidWorks product and its add-in programs excluding SolidWorks partner products. Once Beta Tech support receives the reported issue we will award points based upon the severity of the issue, and the troubleshooting content that it contains.
Links:
Solidworks Beta Program
Solidworks Website
GoEngineer Solidworks Support