Very thorough analysis. I would add a few minor points. 1) The Ideal tiled model is MAJORLY expensive (I think $300 is not unheard of)!
2) I would also caution against the Korean cubes which appear to be hit or miss. The ones I got already came with some nasty lube that looked like earwax. It was impossible to get it all off and when I added silicone...the cube was toast. It would not turn without sticking. 3) Virtually all Ideal cubes, except maybe the Hungarian ones, have a color scheme of white-opp-blue, yellow-opp-green. If you get a tiled or game cube I'm not sure how easy it is to switch over to the "standard" white-yellow. Stickers are not much of a problem thanks to Cubesmith, though you may need some extra solvents to get all the gunk off from the old ones. BTW, I am now forcing myself to use white-yellow. A new convert after 20+ years of doing it the 'wrong' way. --- In [email protected], "d_j_salvia" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > For speedcubing I rate the cubes: > > 1. Ideal Tiled Deluxe Edition > Best all around, no other cube comes close. It has adjusting screws > and is arched underneath the centers - the hard, slick plastic is > thicker than others and is faster unlubed than all the other cubes > lubed. It is a bit heavier than other cubes. Rarely pops or locks up. > Takes silicon spray lube very well, but not Rubiks.com lube. No need > for stickers. > > The Rubik's Game/Challenge has Deluxe cubes with peg holes. I takes > about 5 minutes to get used to the peg holes which can make for better > grip. > > 2. The new cubes from Seven Towns (Rubiks.com, Hasbro, Winning Moves > and Hessport) > Comes with arched centers, can be ordered with screws as a DIY. These > never pop. Lighter than the Deluxe, it takes rubiks.com lube well. > Tends to lock up more than the Deluxe. They come with terrible > stickers. Averages 1 1/2 seconds slower than Deluxe for 30 second solve. > > 3. Ideal cubes circa 1980-1983. > The ones made in Hungary, England, and Hong Kong are the best. I have > heard that the ones made in Korea are good, too. Avoid the Taiwan- made > cubes. These have adjustable screws, and excellent stickers. Very few > have arches, but the arched version is the lightest official cube. > Without arches they tend to pop instead of locking up. Averages 2 1/2 > second slower than the Deluxe for a 30 second solve. > > 4. Rubik's studio cubes. Has the best plastic of cubes made nowadays. > Comes with screws but not arches. Pops quite a lot. Averages nearly > three second slower than the Deluxe for a 30 second solve. I have't > used the three I have enough to know the sticker wear. > > 5. Older Hasbro (etc) cube (before 2000) had screws, but not arches. A > friends older Hasbro speedcube is fairly quick, but I have little > experience with this one. The one I have is terrible. > > 6. Wonderful Puzzler. > Well made knock-off, came with arches. Never tried to make one into a > speed cube. I don't know if they have screws. > > 7. C*4 cube > Made by Matchbox in the late 80s, with Rubik's silkouette and > signature. Lousy plastic. Not a very good cube. > > 8. Mefferts > These are terrible because they have no pressure and you must stop a > turn with effort. Constantly locks up. Decent plastic, but no springs > or screws. > > There are lots of tiled cubes out there which are terrible, leading > the list is the "Old Brand Magic Square" (though Stefan likes the > springs). The only high quality tiled knock-off was called Gyro Cube, > and it has flat centers. > > Regards, > > David J > ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Get fast access to your favorite Yahoo! Groups. Make Yahoo! your home page http://us.click.yahoo.com/dpRU5A/wUILAA/yQLSAA/MXMplB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/speedsolvingrubikscube/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
