What that beta tag is all about

We're all getting used to seeing online applications launch in beta, but less so big editorially driven sites.

So why have we launched in beta? Well, for several reasons. First is that this redesign takes us, we like to think, some way beyond your average big editorially driven site. The community area we have built includes tools for professional networking; ZDNet is now as much an application as a publishing platform, and that means there is still a lot we need to iron out, and a lot we can improve on. Because we've built the platform ourselves it means we can change and improve, so we're very keen to hear your ideas for how we can make it better.

We have had the site in private beta testing mode for some time now, and as with any application, the point at which you open it up to the world is somewhere on a continuum. This continuum runs from major bug fixes to minor feature tweaks; and the point of launch is preferably as far towards the minor feature tweaks end of the spectrum as possible. We know we've still got some minor tweaks to make, and again there is plenty of opportunity for you to have your input. With that in mind we figured it made sense to launch the redesign in beta.

If you click on the button near the top right of every page this will take you to a form where you can give us feedback. Alternatively you can register and send any of the edit team a message through the system.