Writes fixin’ genius Kyle of ifixit in a blog post you should read:
Apple is switching to a new type of tamper-resistant screw across their product line. It is not a standard Torx, and there are no readily available screwdrivers that can remove it. They chose this ‘Pentalobe’ fastener specifically because it was new, guaranteeing repair tools would be both rare and expensive. The iPhone 4 originally shipped with Phillips screws, but Apple has transitioned completely to this new security screw. Shame on them.
This screw head clearly has one purpose: to keep you out. Otherwise, Apple would use it throughout each device. Instead, they only use it at the bulwark–on the outside case of your iPhone and MacBook Air, and protecting the battery on the MacBook Pro–so they can keep you out of your own hardware.
That’s bad enough on its own, but Apple’s latest policy will make your blood boil: If you take your iPhone 4 into Apple for any kind of service, they will sabotage it by replacing your Phillips screws with the new tamper-resistant screws! We’ve spoken with the Apple Store geniuses tasked with carrying out this policy, and they are ashamed of the practice.
Now, I’m not exactly the most handy or patient person in the world when it comes to prying open my devices and fixing things myself, but I’ve done it before. I’ve installed new HDs, I’ve added RAM, and most importantly, I crack open the case every now and then and give it a thorough dusting to prevent problems like these from developing. I guess Apple would rather have me pay $50 for one of their goons to use a $10 pentalobe screwdriver to do it for me. No thanks.
If you’re not just crafty but super-crafty, MAKEZine says you can build your own pentalobe screwhead (or any other proprietary screwdriver).
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