jorge i'd like to suggest that when you send peeps there keys you also give them access to the beta forum instead of having them request access. i'd also suggest that the wishlist thread be moved to the beta forum. i don't think it should be viewable by those that have not purchased winstep products, where it is now leaves it open for peeps that have never run a winstep product to comment. in it's place remove the how to access the beta forum thread under announcements and replace that sticky with a latest release thread that list all the winstep products and the newest bug fixes and features added, and update it as needed including a link to the products page so peeps can see the other features. this would allow you to get rid of most of the older thread in announcements. there are some threads under general discussion you created i think you can move to announcements, then rename general discussion to winstep help. i'd also suggest creating a new section called subscription problems, and move all questions about keys not received to it.

I don't have a comment for the rest, but I don't think moving the wishlist in the beta room makes much sense. I mean, Jorge does have free versions of programmes; surely there are people running those versions for some time, legitimately. Should they have no say? Finally, a good suggestion could come with experience, but my experience tells me that fresh and radical ideas come from fresh perspectives. The more someone uses a specific programme, the more they get used to it, learn it, grow to deal with its quirks and tempers, even adjust their usage patterns to get in line with what that programme can and cannot do. New users *can* have very valuable ideas, in my opinion.

Also, buying a programme doesn't necessarily mean that the person is interested in beta-testing. Betas are preliminary versions, more often than not buggy, could potentially cause damage, not only to the installation of the programme itself, but to Windows as well (ok, that's extremely rare, but still). Again, from my experience, you'd be much more likely to find beta testers in the *free* version pool than in the paid version. People that buy, more often than not, want a programme that just works. I don't have statistics on that, but I would bet that the percentage of people who would actually install a beta and start tinkering with it just for the hell of it is very low. Look at how many people actually post bugs (or even no bugs) when Jorge releases a new beta.
I guess my feeling is that the current scheme, where anyone interested applies and gets access, is working just fine.

actually now that you mention it i would open the beta group to all. never thought about the fact that the beta group isn't open to all users of winstep products.