Asus Chromebook C202
AUTOPSY
We pick apart an Asus Chromebook C202 to see what makes it tick.
BACKGROUND:
Early this year, Asus announced the Chromebook C202—an education-focused Chromebook designed to be inexpensive, rugged, and highly serviceable. That last bit caught our eye, so when Asus sent a test unit, we eagerly investigated the claim.
MAJOR TECH SPECS:
• Dual-core 1.6GHz Intel Celeron N3060 processor, with burst
speeds up to 2.48GHz, and integrated Intel HD Graphics 400
• 2GB and 4GB RAM configurations
• 16GB on-board storage
• HDMI, SD card, and USB 3.0 connectivity
• Chrome OS
• 10-hour battery life
• Ruggedized wrap-around rubber bumper
KEY FINDINGS:
• We grab our tools and get to work. We have to remove a rubber cover or two, but otherwise it’s just standard Phillips screws securing the chassis. Plastic clips around the edge of the spill-proof upper case secure it into the bathtub of a lower case—and after a bit of prying, we free them all. • Keyboard and trackpad ribbon cables connect the upper case to the motherboard, with plenty of slack to flip the upper case over and safely disconnect the ZIF connectors from the motherboard. The trackpad—a common failure point in laptops—practically flies out. • Having popped the top off, we get a look at the interior. The large interconnect cable even has friendly labeled ends: the side marked “IO” connects to the input/output board, while the side labeled “MB” connects to the motherboard. • Minor inconveniences suffered, we can remove the battery. Still nothing but Phillips #1 screws to slow us down. Nothing proprietary, and no adhesives. This is a 38Wh lithium-ion battery, on par with the 11-inch MacBook Air’s 38.75Wh one. • Opening up the display is simple. A couple more Phillips #1 screws behind stuck-on covers, and a quick pry reveals the LCD, camera, microphone, antennas, and hinges, ready to be plucked out and replaced. • Repairability Score: 9 out of 10 (10 is easiest to repair). The intuitive, simplistic design makes disassembly easy and reversible. Modular components mean many repairs can be carried out by quickly swapping a failed part. Only Phillips #1 and #00 screws—no adhesives, and all plastic clips are durable enough to survive reassembly. Linear disassembly means you might have to remove several components to get to what needs replacing. That said, failure-prone parts (battery and ports) are prioritized. RAM and flash storage are soldered to the mobo and can’t be replaced or upgraded, but this may not be an issue for the C202’s target market.