The short answer is yes, you test, and test, and test some more.
Close to product launch you do that testing, more often than not, with a release candidate which you are assured is exactly like the final product. You begin to hope that the release candidate is not exactly like the final product, and you tailor your demo around its warts.
You can normally expect to receive a brand new unit off of the product line hours or even minutes before the demo. You are assured that it's been through extensive testing. Everyone tries to pretend that it couldn't be affected by A) the ~10 hour plane ride it's been on while be handled as luggage or, B) the UPS/FedEx/DHL delivery.
In the end it has a 50-50 chance of failing and being replaced by its understudy, the warty release candidate.
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20th century hottest of last 12... Who considers 12 a significant sample set?!? To quote a tired phrase "Move along, nothing to see here."
The short answer is yes, you test, and test, and test some more.
Close to product launch you do that testing, more often than not, with a release candidate which you are assured is exactly like the final product. You begin to hope that the release candidate is not exactly like the final product, and you tailor your demo around its warts.
You can normally expect to receive a brand new unit off of the product line hours or even minutes before the demo. You are assured that it's been through extensive testing. Everyone tries to pretend that it couldn't be affected by A) the ~10 hour plane ride it's been on while be handled as luggage or, B) the UPS/FedEx/DHL delivery.
In the end it has a 50-50 chance of failing and being replaced by its understudy, the warty release candidate.