Monday, July 28, 2014

Rubik's Cube Key Chain

Note:  This review was originally posted to my Epinions account.


Rubik’s cube is a very popular toy. It’s spawned all sorts of things including a key chain. The original Rubik’s Cube is a 3 by 3 by 3 cube made up of smaller cubes that rotate around a central mechanism. Each side has a different color. Either you or someone else mixes them up and you have to move them back into the original configuration. This key chain is simply a smaller version of the cube with a key ring attached. (I’ve put a link to the original cube at the bottom of this review if you want more details.)

In school, this was a popular prize to give out for contests. I actually won a few, but I didn’t seem to be able to keep them that long. The problem was overuse. While the cube does work like its larger counterpart, the pieces eventually pop out. You can put them back, but they’ll keep popping back out. I remember ending up with just the central mechanism a few times.

Assuming that the cube stayed together long enough, there was also the problem of the stickers peeling off. When this happens, you’re left with a cube that has six black sides. Sure, you can try to glue the stickers back on, but it’s just not the same.

I don’t think I ever had a Rubik’s key chain that lasted more than a few weeks. Between my using it and the normal wear and tear of being a key chain, it takes a lot of damage. The normal cubes seem to last a while. I guess no one ever figured out how to translate that into a smaller unit.

Still, I had fun with them while they lasted, although I never really used them as a key chain. It was just great to be able to have a Rubik’s Cube that I could carry around with me and occasionally sneak into class. Later, I decided that it would be better to attach it to my backpack and not use it. Doing so would allow the key chain to last longer. (I think I may even have one or two still laying around.)

In retrospect, I think the Rubik’s key chains were meant more for novelty or display than for use.

No comments :