What's the solution if you break them? I broke some (if we are speaking about the same thing - I mean those little things that click and keep the bottom cover in place after you remove the screws) on one HP ProBook, now the trackpad-push clicking works unreliably. I thought of buying a whole new bottom cover on eBay but the serial number and the Windows sticker is on it so replacing it would probably void the warranty and other legal things perhaps.
The plastic tabs are ridiculous. Why do they use them when there are screws? To save an extra screw and a fraction of a penny off the price?
At first, you broke some, but with some practice, you are better at this... Took me 5 or 6 to master this art ! But to get this kind of practice, you have to manage the laptops of a small company, that is only fun for the first day, after that, not that much.
Screws have to be sourced. Stored. Present at repair site, etc.
That I can understand.
But the thing about broken tabs is that only some form of double-sided adhesive or drilling a hole and socket for a screw to replace the tab actually works sufficiently well.
I'd totally invest my share in them (HP in my case) building a storage facility for extra screws (and the screws themselves can be manufactured anywhere - no real need to order from China and manage a complex and fragile supply chain). I bloody mean this when I buy a PRObook and an ELITEbook.
Drilling a place for socket for a screw in a laptop means drilling the mainboard - hardly a good idea :-]
The plastic tabs are ridiculous. Why do they use them when there are screws? To save an extra screw and a fraction of a penny off the price?