Sometimes the obvious is not always visible to everyone.
Tell this person to ask for support, license agreements and the legal use of a beta version
so that he finally knows what he deals with by thinking this way.
Obviously not an IT person.
Simply advise him that he has no legal rights deploying beta versions on productive/business systems. Send him some info, requested from the actual manufacturers.
Get some info from the manufacturers regarding stability, support and correct functionality.
Here are some links and definitions
beta version
A pre-shipping release of hardware or software that has gone through alpha test. A beta version of software is supposed to be very close to the final product, but, in practice, it is more a way of getting users to test the software in the first place under real conditions. Given the complexity and ambiguous standards in the PC industry, it is impossible to duplicate the myriad of configurations that exist in the real world.
http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/beta+version
beta test
–noun
1.
Psychology . a set of mental tests designed to measure the general intelligence of individuals unable to read and write adequately or at all, used by the U.S. Army in World War I. Compare alpha test.
2.
Computers . a quality-control technique in which hardware or software is subjected to trial in the environment for which it was designed, usually after debugging by the manufacturer and immediately prior to marketing.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/beta+test
beta test
–verb (used with object)
Computers . to subject (software or hardware) to a beta test.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
Cite This Source | Link To beta test beta test
n. The final stage in the testing of new software before its commercial release, conducted by testers other than its developers.
