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"This screw head is new to us. In fact, there isn't a single reputable supplier that sells exactly the same screwdrivers Apple's technicians use -- which is Apple's point. They picked an obscure head that no one would have," iFixit said. "Apple chose this fastener specifically because it was new, guaranteeing repair tools would be both rare and expensive."
Apple reportedly began using Pentalobe screws to secure the mid-2009 MacBook Pro's battery and they're used on the lower case of the latest MacBook Air models to prevent users from accessing the system's internals. Additionally, many non-US iPhone 4s shipped Pentalobe screws from day one and new US versions use the obscure fasteners.
iFixit also notes that if you bring your iPhone to Apple for "any kind of service," they'll swap your Phillips screws with the new proprietary type. As much as we hate intentional roadblocks, the average user isn't going to dissect their smartphone. For you DIYers, iFixit is selling a new "iPhone 4 Liberation Kit" with everything you'll need to get inside.
User Comments: 35
Got something to say? Post a comment-
matrix86 said:
Coming soon from Apple: screwless devices and a uncustomizable OS. Anything that allows a user to do what they want with their property they paid an arm and a leg for is unacceptable :P
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Just normal Apple business.
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peperonikiller said:
I might just take apart my windows phone and HTC Evo again just for the lulz of how easy it is.. now where's my philips screwdriver
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princeton said:
This is what the screw should look like.
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You can't really use a flat head screwdriver however to open the 5 star pentalobe. Notice that there wouldn't be any good places to "catch" onto the screw.
At most, you risk damaging the head of the screw, and voila, you have a screw that can't be removed. Forever. Well, not forever, but you get the drift.
I still think you could remove it. It would probably just require a more specific size than the star ones do. Even if you totally mangled it, you'd still remove it easily with an E-Z Out.
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It's time for Microsoft to run back the famous 1984 Apple's McIntosh commercial!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYecfV3ubP8
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tengeta said:
Just remember, Apple was the first technology company to be "certified platinum" in its green ways, and is also the first company to lose that rating. It was purely because of the near impossibility of replacing parts and tucking the battery away.
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If Apple was especially clever, the dictators would create a screw with the Apple logo and patent the design, so that no one but Apple could create a screwdriver.
But then again, the Chinese don't care about such things and would create one anyways....
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Not that it matters but i have my Masters in Computer Science, 7 years working on Apples, PC's and Linux. And by far the best is linux..Windows a close second and Apple just fails.
I used to use apple products, till my Macbooks hard drive gave out. i used to use OSX to perform system repairs on other mac's and well, i dont believe in my opinion that Mac's are created to be extensively used everyday to do hardcore things. Just a casual use computer. I have a dj friend who uses a mac, he's on his 8th mac, and has been five years in the business.
Just my opinion. i'll wait for the fanboy to criticize everything i've said.
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unrealmp3 said:
They're might be a bit hard to find at this time, but the Chinese will take care of that.
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