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Look, I get why I'm being downvoted, the HN community is a group of, well, hackers, and hackers like to be able to do things like muck about with their devices.

Look, I get why I'm being downvoted, the HN community is a group of, well, hackers, and hackers like to be able to do things like muck about with their devices. But you need to see things from the perspective of the average consumer. The only reason the average consumer would want to open up an iPhone or a MacBook is to do something like swap out the battery. And since these devices aren't designed with that in mind, the average consumer is very likely to damage or destroy their device in attempting to do so. Apple has a responsibility to remove the obvious easy ways for a customer to accidentally destroy their device. In this way, using custom screws is no different than trying to make the screen less likely to crack when dropped. But Apple isn't making it impossible to open their devices. They're just making it so the average consumer can't do it. It's not that hard to get pentalobe screwdrivers. Heck, ifixit.com even sells them. Here's a screwdriver bit you can buy for just $4.95 (https://www.ifixit.com/Store/Tools/Tri-point-Y000-Screwdriver-Bit-for-Apple-Watch-and-iPhone-7/IF145-309-2 https://www.ifixit.com/Store/Tools/Tri-point-Y000-Screwdrive...). It's not that big of a deal.

abritinthebay 9y ago
If there is one thing HN commenters are, by and large, not very good at... it's understanding that they are NOT the average consumer. It's been true of all hacker/tech forums since well before the "no wifi, less space than a Nomad. Lame" era.
- likeclockwork 9y ago
  Is this Average Consumer News?
khedoros1 9y ago
> The only reason the average consumer would want to open up an iPhone or a MacBook is to do something like swap out the battery. I think that the average consumer is more likely to go buy a new one, or put up with the nuisance of a short battery life. Almost all the Apple replacement batteries that I see on Amazon come with the special screwdrivers anyhow. So if they're determined enough to actually order a battery, it's almost inevitable that they'll also get the tools to do whatever damage they can. > Apple has a responsibility to remove the obvious easy ways for a customer to accidentally destroy their device. I don't think that Apple has a responsibility to protect customers from their own conscious actions, but I think some of the minor roadblocks make sense from a business perspective; no manufacturer wants to deal with a customer that "repaired" their own device and expects the company to still honor the warranty.

abritinthebay 9y ago

If there is one thing HN commenters are, by and large, not very good at... it's understanding that they are NOT the average consumer. It's been true of all hacker/tech forums since well before the "no wifi, less space than a Nomad. Lame" era.

likeclockwork 9y ago
Is this Average Consumer News?

khedoros1 9y ago

> The only reason the average consumer would want to open up an iPhone or a MacBook is to do something like swap out the battery. I think that the average consumer is more likely to go buy a new one, or put up with the nuisance of a short battery life. Almost all the Apple replacement batteries that I see on Amazon come with the special screwdrivers anyhow. So if they're determined enough to actually order a battery, it's almost inevitable that they'll also get the tools to do whatever damage they can. > Apple has a responsibility to remove the obvious easy ways for a customer to accidentally destroy their device. I don't think that Apple has a responsibility to protect customers from their own conscious actions, but I think some of the minor roadblocks make sense from a business perspective; no manufacturer wants to deal with a customer that "repaired" their own device and expects the company to still honor the warranty.