It's a screw. It's not welded shut for heaven's sake.

That still doesn't justify the ridiculous screw!


It is unnecessary cost!
1. It must be more expensive to make so customer pays
2. It will cost money to buy a special tool to get into the product, again customer pays

I am yet to hear a single benefit of this special screw!

Anybody?

So buy an Android phone instead.

What's the problem?

It stops idiots getting into the device and voiding their warranty then going to Apple and saying they did nothing?

Surely with something like this: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Silverline-6751 ... iy_title_3
One would be able to remove the screw...It's cheap, and if you're into taking things apart you may already have a set....

Have the iPhone 4s become more expensive since Apple introduced this screw? If not then I don't see how the cost of manufacturing has gone up...Apple have included this in their already high costs.

The iPhone is sold as a complete appliance, not as a modular device to take apart. Why would you want to get inside?

Indeed.

It's supposed to be rather like a microwave or a TV - "No user-serviceable parts".

How does that excuse the Macbook?

Apple have always supplied their computers as appliances, that's their thing. If you don't like it, buy something else. Oh wait - you did.

One would think that Apple want to make their notebooks more of an appliance too. It's easy enough to replace the hard drive and RAM on a MacBook Pro. On the MBA the hard drive and RAM are not upgradable (the RAM is soldered to the logic board - much like many of the Mac CPUs are).

That is massive benefit indeed.

Call me crazy but I believe everybody should be able to void their warranty should they chose to do so.
It reminds me of idiots who eat Mcdonalds three times a day and then sue when the get fat. Are apple customers that stupid too? Do they need being protected from themselves?

And I also wonder how Apple managed to do without special screws until now. Or any other manufacturer of electronic devices for that matter.
I am sure somebody must have came up with a way to deal with it. Or maybe apple is a pioneer in this area too

What is it with apple users defending getting screwed by the company all the time? I just don't get it. Maybe think different is really different...

This amazing argument just keeps repeating itself...

I don't understand why it vexes you so. It can't be envy, surely?

Koli, I think you need to sort out that chip on your shoulder.

It's cute how you are so concerned for Apple customers, Koli.

Erm... ... how are Apple users getting screwed "all the time"? If Apple had promised a modular user-upgradeable system and then afterwards acted like this then you'd have a point. But they promised no such thing - the Computer as an Appliance approach has been Apple's MO for years.

Furthermore those that want to get into appliances are in the minority. Most domestic devices or computers never get opened or upgraded - they get replaced. If they do get opened, it's either at home or in the shop but either way it's by service personnel with the correct tools. If you're never going to open a box, it doesn't matter what screws are used.

The Apple, Wintel and *Nix ecosystems simply work very differently - moaning that Apple work like they do is whistling after the wind.

If any of you can't control the their urges and you feel the need to make this personal feel free to drop me a pm, we can try to sort it out that way. Even if Nick doesn't understand that, maybe others will...