Review date: 12/11/2005

Manufacturer: Medicom

Released: 2005

Availability: RARE

Type: Accessory

 
 

Personal Story:
I found out about this figure from my favorite Kubrick forum, KubrickWorld. They had it in their database so I checked out HMV Japan's site to see if it was still available. I was a fan of the original iKub's design so I ordered it right away. The shipping was the SAME price as the figure so I paid double for it which sucked. Anyways, it was sold out a bit later on so I'm glad I got it.

Please check out my iKub review since I'll be comparing them extensively in this review.
 
Introduction:
This is a 400% Be@rbrick figure based on the design of the Apple iPod. It was made as an accessory for the iPod. It was available exclusively to HMV stores in Japan only. Unlike the basic iBe@rs that were mass-produced for the iPod Mini, this figure also includes a tray for the standard iPods also.
 

Sculpt:
Just like the iKub that was released earlier, It's a standard 400% Be@rbrick body and head. That's it. There aren't any custom parts or anything on the body itself. The only new accessory are the two trays for the iPod Photo and iPod Mini. It's a simple sculpt and it holds the iPod Photo and iPod Mini. The regular iPod fits into the tray very well also. I don't have an iPod Mini so I can't tell if it holds it well or not. There are pros and cons to the regular iPod tray. Please refer to my iKub review for the reasons since it's the exact same tray. The iPod Mini's tray is placed between the legs and works better in a practical way over the standard tray. There's no fear of damage to the chrome area with the iPod Mini tray.

The figure has all the same trappings as the iKub. It's made from the same material except it's taller than the iKub. Personally, I like the sculpt at this size more than the iKub.
 

Paint:
Same exact "paint job" as the iKub so my review for that figure will be repeated here.

The paint is a plain white with chrome on the back and sides to mimic the shiny metal surface on the back of the iPod. The glossy white paint is simple and looks similar to the white color of the iPod. It looks good and is very clean. I had mixed reactions with the chrome on the body though. While the chrome looks great, it's extremely fragile. There were fingerprints on it even before I touched it! That shows people in the factory didn't use gloves during assembly which sucks. Also, the chrome had tiny dents and scratches which was also very annoying. I had expected better quality from Medicom considering how limited this figure was. I was hoping they didn't use this cheap chrome but they did. If you had expected it to be metal or something similar to the real iPod, you'll be sorely disappointed. Good thing the chrome is in the back. I had to handle this figure very carefully to avoid damaging the chrome. Boo...

But even with my complaints, the overall design is very cool. I really love the fact that it looks like an iPod. The white and chrome worked very well together. Like I said, the design is nice but the execution was less than stellar.

 
Overall: B+
The be@rbrick design works much better than the iKub's kubrick design at this size. It's a very cool figure to have if you like the be@rbricks more than the kubricks. Once again, I love the basic iPod styling but it seems Medicom didn't learn to improve the flaws that the iKub had. The extra standard iPod tray is a nice bonus.
 
Where can I find this?
Ultra rare. It was only available from HMV stores in Japan. HMV Japan had it for a while but it seems it's gone now so you'll have to hunt it down in auction sites like Ebay. If you can't find it, you can still find the basic iBe@rs that are widely available everywhere.
 
Other Images:


The box. Same as the iKub's box design. It looks great. 'Nuff said.

 


The iBe@r with the trays installed. Note the left pic which shows my U2 Special Edition iPod wrapped in the sweet Darth Vader iPod skin. ;)

 


The trays. The iPod Mini tray is better designed than the regular iPod tray.

 


The instruction sheet. Similar to the iKub sheet with additional instructions for the other tray. It basically shows that you should never store the iPod on it when it's standing since it might tip and fall. You know that's bad news for your expensive iPod so it was a good idea to have this reminder.

 


The back. Please don't examine the pic too closely. I hate reflective surfaces. :P

 
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