Pretesting

• The test team randomly selects a test sample from ready-to-be-shipped laptops. The team checks the hard drives, keyboards, touch pads, cover hinges and latches for pre-test defects. The testers then subject each laptop to heat, cold, humidity and pressure to ensure that it satisfies basic tolerances.
  
  

Free Fall Test

• The tester first drops the laptop from predetermined heights to determine its crash tolerance. This test usually measures the effects of both a flat-bottomed landing and a corner landing.
  
  

Acceleration Test

• The test technician then accelerates the laptop to preset levels of g-force. This test ensures that the laptop can withstand a certain level of shock.
  
  

Spill and Dust Test

• Laptop users often eat and drink while working. Therefore, the test team checks the laptop's resistance to a liquid like coffee or soda spilled on the keyboard, then to dust blown into the keyboard.
  
  

Design Thresholds

• After each durability test, the team boots up the laptops and thoroughly checks them for damage. The manufacturer uses the results of these tests to confirm or challenge the tolerance thresholds engineered into the laptop's design.