Apple Changes iPhone Screws

[Joe Johaneman]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.hardmac.com/news/2011/01/20/apple-puts-pentalobe-screws-in-the-iphone' target='_blank'>http://www.hardmac.com/news/2011/01...s-in-the-iphone</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"When the new MacBook Air came out, we talked about the special screwdriver, which it is necessary to possess in order to open the laptop.&nbsp; It is a Pentalobe, almost impossible to find outside of Apple after-sale repair centers.According to iFixit, the last iPhone 4 delivered also carry that type of screws in order to make them harder to take apart."</em></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/at/auto/1295579899.usr105505.jpg" style="border: 1px solid #d2d2bb;" /></p><p>According to most of the articles I've read, not only do the latest iPhone 4 shipments have these screws; iPhones brought in for repairs are returning with these screws instead of the Phillips they went in with.&nbsp; If that's the case, I'd be annoyed.&nbsp; If I bought it with Phillips screwheads, I want those to stay there unless I gave my express permission to change them(not that I'd consider the iPhone exactly user servicable, but it's the point of the matter).&nbsp; If it really bothered me that much, <a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2011/01/20/ifixit-releases-iphone-4-liberation-kit-for-pentalobe-screws/" target="_blank">there is a solution</a> thanks to the folks at iFixit.</p>

[Sven Johannsen]

Amazing. What makes Apple believe that they can curtail the sale of a tool?
http://www.amazon.com/Pentalobe-Screwdriver-iPhone-generation-Silverhill/dp/B004IU9EDM

Can't speak to the effectiveness of the Amazon linked product, but there will shortly be numerous options. This is just bad press foder. They should have made there screw slots in the shape of a little Apple. Then everyone would have wanted them.

[Brad Adrian]

I don't think I've cracked open a phone for years and years, back when I switched out some damaged guts on a T-Mobile phone. I don't anticipate ever needing to open up my iPhone, either, but it somehow just rubs me the wrong way when I'm told I CAN'T do something to a piece of electronics that I own.

Imagine how crazy it would make us geeks if suddenly all of the Torx screws on our notebook PCs were non-removable! No more user upgrades, no more dust bunny safaris, no more just doing stuff because we can. I PRAY that companies like HP and Toshiba do not follow Apple's precedent (but if history teaches us anything, it's that companies like HP and Toshiba definitely do NOT follow Apple's example!).

[Sven Johannsen]

I PRAY that companies like HP and Toshiba do not follow Apple's precedent (but if history teaches us anything, it's that companies like HP and Toshiba definitely do NOT follow Apple's example!).
Well, at least they don't adopt the good stuff ;(