“iFixIt notes that, although it looks similar, it’s not a standard Torx screw. Worse, there are no readily available screwdrivers that can remove it,” O’Grady reports. “Even iFitIt’s own 54-bit driver kit doesn’t have the pentalobe-head screwdriver, adding to the frustration.”
MacDailyNews Take: Actually, iFixtit’s US$9.95 “iPhone 4 Liberation Kit” allows users to to replace Pentalobe screws with Phillips screws (which, of course, is why this story is likely being floated in the first place.)
O’Grady reports, “Pentalobular screws first appeared in the mid-2009 MacBook Pro to prevent you from replacing the the battery and Apple is using a similar screw on the outer case of the current MacBook Air. Obviously, it’s Apple perogative to do as they choose, but it’s like DRM and copy-protection before that, it’s not going to stop a determined individual. So, what’s the point?”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Apple simply strives to be cutting edge, right down to the screws. 
I guess Apple doesn’t want you to ‘unscrew’ with their creation….
So why wasn’t this headline news when Seagate used these same screws on their disk drives ?
Everyone does this really.
I like the “libreration” kit lol.
Maybe the real reason is that these screws are less likely to strip out than Torx or Phillips screws?
Let’s also note that the “reason” given for the switch is O’Grady’s opinion or iFixIt’s opinion. Apple has said no such thing.
Besides, if the true intent was to stop end users or third parties from opening Apple devices, it’s a pretty bad plan. Those screwdrivers are apparently already available (see iFixIt’s kit), or would be very soon due to demand. So the entire plan is based on no one having a pentalobular screwdriver.
That’s what Chrysler did in the 1970s. They changed oil pan drain plugs to Allen wrenches instead of standard hex heads so people would have to get their oil changed at the dealer instead of doing it at home or their local shop. The result? At their next oil change, people just switched out the drain plug for a standard one, and never went back to the dealer again because they were pissed.
Maybe it’s because the internal battery is easily damaged by someone who doesn’t know what they’re doing.
So if you simply *must* open your iPhone, you just need to get a 5-point screwdriver. Gee, Apple sure is evil.
Apple does this because they offer us awesome warranties. If we start tampering away, we make it harder for them to continue issuing such warranties. We’ll be stuck with lame 90 day kinda warranties.
Yeah, it is our stuff to mess around as we please but don’t go trying to fix it yourself during the warranty period or during the Applecare period.
Now do you get it?
…or maybe they choose this rarer fastener because the Chi-Com factory where Apple products are made replaced high quality phillips head screws with cheaper knock offs so Apple is trying to keep control of their product. Because we all know that Chi-Com electronics assembly companies would never replace a specified component with a cheaper version…never ever. The Chi-Com factories have the best interest of American companies in mind…always.
just my $0.02
Because it doesn’t give pandering writers the opportunity to describe a minor product revision as “cutting edge”.
“MacDailyNews Take: Apple simply strives to be cutting edge, right down to the screws.” Pathetic.
I routinely get Apple laptops and then install my own HD and RAM modules after-the-fact. My next purchase will probably be a MBP, so I guess I’m going to have to order a screwdriver.
Does anyone know if they’re changing this on the MacBooks as well?
Pentalobular = my word of the year.
MJ needs to do more instructional videos.
My guess is that folks that can’t get any tamper resistant screw out probably shouldn’t be getting inside anyway…..
– gws
In other SENSATIONAL APPLE NEWS!!!!!!11111ONEONEONE…
Mr. Jobs woke up today, put his feet on the floor, and yawned.
STOP THE PRESSES!!!!
(The point? ANY small Apple story will generate hits, clicks and roll over the rock that the Apple-hating trolls live under. Check out this story on Ars Technica for an example.)
Oh… methinks ifixit is using this non-story to generate sales of it’s “liberation” kit. You can get this bit elsewhere for half the price if you look for it…
BOO-FARKING HOOOOO!
Seriously. The world is going to hell and this is what people have to cry about?
Like my nieces would say, “what-ev”.
to paraphrase one of the coolest characters in moviedom:
“Frankly… I don’t give a damn.”
@ Ray you say: “or maybe they choose this rarer fastener because the Chi-Com factory where Apple products are made replaced high quality phillips head screws with cheaper knock offs …”
Shows your prejudice. From Wikipedia on Torx:
“By design, Torx head screws resist cam-out better than Phillips head or slot head screws.”
They are therefore BETTER screws. This variant, however was particularly designed to discourage “tampering.”
The Wii uses these. Mine crapped out an I went to take it apart…
And no a TORX doesn’t work…
It’s Just as simple as the Advertisement that it is,
iFixIt is just peddling it’s $9.99 kit’s to make money and its the only thing that is pathetic.
iFixIt though, has put out some good help information has also pushed its own fixit service kits and tools, Remember the $12.99 Mac Mini Scraper Opener that they sold a year ago that you could pick up the same identical Scraper Made by the same Manufacture on Amazon for $2.39.
No, This is a very bad attempt to spin a Good Security Feature into a BAD APPLE But Hey you can… BUY OUR LIBERATION KIT and beat the Man attempt, And its a poor one at that.
Now tell me, is it just the Apple Haters that see this as a Evil Apple Thing, Hell I See it For what it is, Its Business, It’s a bad Car Salesman Approach to it’s all evil, but we have the best buys found anywhere.
No Apples not the Evil one, iFixIt has a problem with reality and this whole story is just their Opinion for sales.
So In My Opinion,
iFixIt You Suck, For Pushing a story of Half Truths, A Story to fuel your sales of a kit you are selling. Why don’t you liberate yourself from all of the BS you are
Pushing and be honest.
Done.
Appreciate the heads up of still another way to stop Steve Jobs from taking over my life.
Here’s the problem:
Any monkey can get any special screwdriver and remove the screws, so this does nothing to prevent tampering.
But as a consumer this bothers me because while it does nothing to prevent people from opening devices, it does prevent people from opening devices easily wherever they may be.
A case in point… My girlfriend dropped her iPhone in water. I was able to open it up with her eyeglasses toolkit and dry it out before any damage could occur. Within an hour I had it re-assembled and it’s been working for over half a year now without problem.
With non-standard screws, the iPhone would have been soaked for a long enough time before I could get a tool for it or take it someplace for repair before the water permanently damaged it.
Regarding the iFixit kit, why exactly do you need to replace the new screws with phillips screws if the kit already has the correct driver for the new screws… o_O
Just seems like marketing on iFixit’s part.
I for one have a problem with the proliferation of screw and fastener heads just for the sake of having some proprietary design unless it provides some value to the end user. This does not met that standard based upon what information is available.
Pentalobular……….Quarks ears???:-)
News flash: these five-pointed star-shaped screws have been shown in Apple’s iPhone 4 marketing materials since day one. This is NOT what people are trying to make it out to be.
Pentalobe-gate! BLoggers: FLIP OUT!
Gives new meaning to “jailbreaking your iPhone.”
RE: My last comment – The image that’s been on Apple’s site for a LOOOONG TIME.
Or…it’s just another way Apple tries to “screw” the consumer to prevent choice.
You have to be freakin kidding me. You guys are b@tching because Apple changed the screws? I mean seriously, people are acting like Apple just took away your rights. There very few reasons that you need to take your iPhone apart.
I’ll start complaining when Apple starts using weird screws in a Mac Pro…
If the reason for the switch is tamper-proof, then these screws are an odd choice. Tamper-proof 5-pointed Torx has a pin in the middle, but it has been around for quite some time, with the tools available (not wide-range, but still), which would also drive these.
No, the true reason for them to use this screws appears to be much less sinister. In case you haven’t noticed, Apple has to make a shitload of product, and is switching to metal in their products — aluminum unibodies on Macs, steel bands on iPhones etc.That introduces wear, not only on the screws, but also on the tools that are used in the production line. Anything that will reduce this wear saves money. Thus, Torx. 5-lobed for torque coupling, or the readily available screw size. Another 5-lobe reason may be simply that it reduces live-shortening oscillations on the motor-axis of the machine used to mount the screws (no joke, the reason fans should have odd number of blades is exactly that).
“Another 5-lobe reason may be simply that it reduces live-shortening oscillations on the motor-axis of the machine used to mount the screws”
so true..
I have seen cheap toys and even electronics come straight out of the packing, with semi-stripped screws.
But this is to me anyway, a “who cares” story.
everyone does these things, many reasons behind them. consumer tampering is just one.
Could have been one of those “replace the Phillips screws with these new ones, and we solve or address 7 issues at once”
Sure you can buy the tool anyway, but how many people WILL go out and buy one?
odds are the number of people that would take the iPhone apart, cut in half. (or more) those that buy the tool, would buy any tool just to be able to tear something apart. I have all the security/tamper/etc bits myself, and i’ll probably add this to my set also.. not that i need to tear open my iPhone, but i’m sure someday i’ll need to tear open my MBP to replace a HD or something.
Now if i were to go to my parents… I bet my Dad already has the bits needed. and he doesn’t even have any Apple product..
He thanks buddy for sharing nice information to us.
http://parentalcontrolsoftwaresite.org/
I just upped the memory in my 2010 MBP and it had Phillips screws in it. Tiny to work but no issues. Was done in 5 minutes with a std little Phillips screwdriver.
Good, its not cool to open a mac thats been tampered with, makes my work extra hard… I have my new pentalobular drivers, theyre smaller than the first ones
“iFixtit’s” too. Fer free!
OH GOD! My Super Nintendo games have weird screws too! How am I supposed to replace the backup battery? Nintendo just wants me to buy a new copy of Final Fantasy III !!! NINTENDO HATES ITS CUSTOMERS! :-\
I really can’t believe the hyperventilating some people are experiencing over SCREWS. Buy the iFixit kit, problem solved forever. I mean, nobody raised a stink when they had to go out and by a Torx set to work on their iBooks, eMacs, iMacs, etc…
I find it funny that most of you didn’t even seem to read the article.
If Apple wants to ship products with a special screwdriver that’s fine by me. But when you take your product in to have it serviced and they swap out the screws without telling you, that is bullshit. If Ford replaced the lug nuts on your car when you got it serviced so you had to go to Ford to get your tires changed they would get their asses sued.
@Scrapdroid – It doesn’t have the correct driver. it has a 5 pointed star driver that kinda fits and lets you hack out the pentalobes.
Just thinking, I just realized those are all (in both iPhone and MacBook) visible screws. They’re on the outside, and that makes them design elements. I bet Jonathan Ive picked them, just for looks and the benefits for production (no cam out, less stripping on the factory floor, increased tool lifetime etc.). Sure, he could have chosen Torx, but, you see, they’re symmetrical, which means they have to be aligned to the edges….
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Just looked at my recently repaired by Apple unibody MBP 13 (mid 2009). Came from the factory with Phillips, still has Phillips. Looked at the SOs iPhone 4 (bought in September) Phillips. No pentalobular (it is sort of a special word) screws here.
Talk about getting screwed!
Because this gives Apple haters something to write about?
Caman…