Road Test

Zachary, from what I've seen the products are new or significant upgrades. The primary objective of the Roadtest is constructive feedback from engineers and hobbyists. The roadtesters are only given a couple of months to complete the reports so that's not really long enough to beta test unless you were using it full time.

There's one Roadtest I was involved in where we realised after some of the reports were submitted that the products shipped were not the production models. Element14 recalled the products and the correct items well be resent.

Agree totally with Workshopshed, additionally sometimes road tests have an additional twist where you have to provide a minimal number of blog posts as well, it is expected that the reviewer will not be simply regurgitating the vendor guides and info, it is supposed to represent real world examples of use and your impressions of the product and significant effort is often required to do this properly (Video, Pictures, charts etc). Personally I spend 10's of hours working with the products I review between the actual playing with the product and the editing and prep of the content to be posted.

now that needs to be weighed with the product your reviewing, some times there only valued at $50 or so, sometimes there many thousands of  $$ or even over 10K$ or more, so you have to understand the vendor and Element 14 is making an investment in you by providing this equipment and is expecting a decent review etc.

On the plus side, you get to keep the equipment afterwards so there's a sweet reward for you effort and sometimes there is a prize for the best review / blog too... bonus!

There are other twists like making the review a challenge but that a whole other game that you will learn as you go ?

Regards

Peter

Definitely products are new and you are a beta tester

Beta testing does suggest something that is not yet available in the shops which is typically not the case with these road tests. Beta testers also typically have to provided detailed reports on any issues which is not normally a requirement of road tests. That's why I don't classify these as beta tests.

when you beta test it is pretty much guaranteed that you would have to sign an Non Disclosure Agreement.

Yes, probably beta-tester is not the best term, but the product that you roadtest have been just released,

I would say its more product promotion. By having someone real world not affiliated with the manufacturer and who has nothing to gain from the review other than a free unit they get hopefully an honest and good review that they can now show off and say we are as good as we said we are. That being said, some road test backfire in the sense the product is not up to par and a less favourable review is published.

Kas

You know what they say: "any publicity is good publicity"

Even when you end of the review "I don't think this product is worth the money"... ?

But I do hear you.

Sounds like a recent one maybe!