Is there a tool list for a specific MacBook

What I would like to see is a list of devices that apply to a tool when I select that tool. My problem was that I was looking at the wrong instructions and didn't realize it. I ended up buying the tools for the device in the video, but it was not my mac. If the "buy this tool" option would have listed "Macs this works on", I would have realized the problem sooner.

iFixit employee checking in! In theory this works, but we have over 7000 devices in our database. For something as simple as Torx Screwdriver, you'd be looking at a list with a couple hundred (if not thousand) items in it—the only efficient way to look through this list would be to type in the exact make and model of your device!

However, it's a bummer that you ended up with the wrong driver. Please get in touch with our customer support team and we'll see if we can get you sorted out.

@evan This is why when I make my guides, I usually use the current largest driver bit set unless I know ahead of time this won't work. Since the chances of the bit being there are relatively good, I know that the chances of not needing to list individual drivers, plus the driver kit is very low. It simplifies the tool list for readers, and pretty much ensures they will have the bits they need for the job. From that point, all I may need to add is things like spudgers, thermal paste and maybe a single purpose screwdriver if it's going to be required for whatever reason.

It makes it easy to simplify the list on what tools readers needs to buy, and is by far much quicker and easier. However, the problem with this is if a driver kit I put in there in the past (ex: 54-bit) is discontinued, I need to go in there and do a tool update. However, it beats having to find individual drivers since it's only one thing I need to change, rather then multiple tools. This usually isn't a problem if I don't get to it, because the old link will probably redirect to the current bit set, which was the case with my guides I didn't change it right away on.

@nick, That's a pretty safe general rule, and we follow that for teardowns. For guides I usually stick to listing individual bits since many users may only have basic bits (i.e. PH0, flatheads, Torx) at their disposal and that may be all that they need.

Whichever convention we follow there will be a tradeoff between users sometimes buying incorrect bits, or buying redundant tools. Since we're writing repair manuals for the general public first and foremost, I'm inclined to just list necessary bits (whose product pages rarely change) in guides, and stick to listing bit kits in our teardowns (where we can get away with a little extra marketing).

@evan And I do agree with you that it's a tradeoff between listing the individual drivers and making sure you have all of the individual drivers listed or going with the one size fits all approach. I'd rather have the reader buy a driver set I know for a fact has the bits the guide requires, so I know I will not have to make any major corrections to the tools in a lot of situations. I look at it as an easy way to make sure my tools list is complete and nothing is missing. The idea is the tools are "set it and forget it", and unless I come across a rare device that can't use it, I have the tools list finished with nothing missing. I can then focus on the guide rather then verify I have the tools list 100% correct.

What I typically do is standardize on one driver bit kit, to make the tools list easy to finish. I'm not against the lower cost ones and may suggest them as an alternative, but in general I prefer to stick to the one I standardized on. Yes, this means a higher upfront tool investment, but the reader will have everything they need and then some. I'm not opposed to telling them with drivers to buy specifically, if they decide they want dedicated screwdrivers. I just keep them out of the tool list to avoid confusing the reader.

My approach also helps people like you, who list individual drivers. If you forget one, it probably isn't the end of the world, if they have the bit kit from one of my guides. You will probably be told you made a mistake, which you can fix. The reader still finishes the guide anyway, since they had the bit you forgot to put in the tools list. I think it beats being stuck, even if it costs the reader a little more to do it that way initially.

The major difference in our approaches is how bad mistakes that arise are. For me, it's as easy as a 1 or 2 line edit per step that it happened on. This takes far less time, and I can do it on my phone if it's brought to my attention. You can't change the tool list on the phone (as of this comment), so you have to do it when you get to a computer or try and use the desktop site on a small screen.

That's not to say I don't disagree with your method. I can see why you do it, but this is just why I do it. I've determined this is the better tradeoff for me. To help the reader see if they have the right driver to hand, I mention the bit you need for each step in bold. The idea is they preview it, check their tools and see if they need to get anything else before they start the repair. Likewise, if they need something they can also choose their own path towards getting everything they need. That can be my tools list, a smaller bit set or individual drivers. I do it to simplify the tool list, primarily. I do not see a problem with a reader opting for individual drivers or maybe a cheaper driver kit, as long as it has the bits the guide calls for.