How can I determine if a device is really running Android? In our area there is gadget called "IRobot" which the supplier claims has Android 1.4 inside. I am afraid that it might be a "fake" version of the Android OS. I do not have experience with Android so are there any guidelines I can use to check that a device is really running Android? Also, is there a way to check if a version of Android can be updated?
I've never heard of Android 1.4, but it could exist. It could be a dev release or something but just was never widely used.

Go to your wireless carrier store and see what OS the phones should be running. Then make a purchase.