CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201)Mobile DevicesMedium
A technician is replacing a laptop keyboard and discovers that the keyboard is fused to the palm rest as a single field-replaceable unit (FRU). Which of the following best describes this type of component?
- ADigitizer panel
- BSO-DIMM module
- CTop cover assembly
- DPort replicator
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. Top cover assembly
Many modern laptops integrate the keyboard, palm rest, and touchpad into a single top cover assembly to reduce part count and improve rigidity, requiring replacement of the whole unit rather than the keyboard alone.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. A digitizer is for touchscreen input, unrelated to the keyboard/palm rest.
- B. SO-DIMM refers to memory modules, not keyboards.
- D. A port replicator is an external accessory, not an internal laptop component.
Top Cover Assembly
A laptop FRU that combines the keyboard, palm rest, and often the touchpad into a single replaceable part.
- Common in ultrabooks to save space
- Requires full assembly replacement even for a single failed key
- Reduces disassembly complexity but increases part cost
Memory trick: Top cover = keyboard's whole neighborhood, not just one house.