Wooden gadget accessories appeal to a certain kind of dweebus — I am that dweebus . And Oregon ’s Grove has been among the best for years . Now they ’re making iPad cases . Are they worth it ?
What Is It?
Why I eff An Imperfect $ 70 Wooden iPhone suit
Why Does It Matter?
Why does anything matter , really ? That ’s a question for the ages . But if you require to protect your slight , expensive little tablet , you ’re probably break down to want to put it in some sort of protective case . As for me and my contraption , I prefer wood , since I ’m operate to be touching and handling my devices for thousands of hours over their useful life .
Design
orchard products in general have a thoughtfulness that give away itself pretty cursorily in real economic consumption : push button hole ( or covers ) are well - direct , joints are sturdy and sanded down to smoothness , and you could state they ’ve spend a wad of time and wasted Sir Henry Wood trying to attain the lower limit amount of material necessary to provide auspices for the iPad mini while not being so thin that it ’s fragile .
Using It
I had expected Grove ’s case to ruin my favorite matter about the iPad mini : its size . I switch over from a full - size of it iPad substance abuser to a mini guy as shortly as Retina displays became available on the modest twist and I have n’t regretted it for an representative . ( Except for the time I forget I had slew a vitrine - less mini into my back pocket and sat on it . Now I ’m on my second iPad mini and know what it ’s like to pick chicken feed out of your jeans pocket . ) The current Retina mini is wonderful to view as and use , and it ’s replaced my laptop as the calculator I bear with me at all times . I slip the mini into my air pocket before leaving the house almost every day .
The Grove case does increase the size by several millimeters in every commission , but it still will fit in most of my sac . Outside of my pocket , any additional weight it adds is usually mitigated by the roll - up cover that serves as a handle — or bridge player - hold , I suppose — that makes reading in portrait orientation course very comfortable .
Magnets in the throw - down concealment keep it closed when you need it close ( just like most iPad mini covering ) .
And like most wooden cases , it feel fantastic to touch . It changes the dimension of the gimmick , sure , but it ’s still small enough to seem small-scale .
Like
After using it for about three months , I do n’t think about it anymore , or wonder if I ’d be happier without it . ( Or with another case . ) The best mobile gimmick is one without a case at all , but until Apple can make an iPad mini that I ca n’t shatter by pose on or scratch simply by give it in my filthy bags , I ’ll be using grammatical case . And even thought I seldom prop up my iPad miniskirt up on its side to watch movies , having the option to do so is nice .
I guess what I ’m say is that I like that it ’s a case I wish .
No Like
The slight strips of bamboo that make up the hinge of the case , glued on to a piece of felt - like stuff , have started chipping off after getting caught on the inside of my jacket pockets . It ’s a piddling shabby looking at , but like all wooden or organic cases , you kind of have to accept getting some physical , visible damage as part of the experience . Wabi - sabi , y’ all .
If it ’s anything like Grove ’s previous designs , I expect they ’ll discover a new method of build up the hinge in succeeding versions that create it more long-wearing , just like they improved the top edge of their iPhone cases to keep splintering by using a dissimilar ( although still bamboo - based ) material . ( I ’ve got a new model of their iPhone case now that ’s over a year old and it ’s more or less as dear as young , minus the welcome patina that ’s come from my handwriting oils . )
Should You Buy It?
Not if you ’re not depend for a wooden iPad mini guinea pig . Or if you want to go cheap — this patsy costs 90 bucks . ( $ 110 for the iPad Air adaptation . ) But if you ’re a wooden gadget jerk like I am , it ’s a product you may grease one’s palms with the cognition that it does exactly what it claims to do . Yet if you ’re on the fence , await a bit ; I suspect the next iteration will be even better .
Materials : Bamboo and fabric
Weight : 4 oz./6.4 oz . ( Mini / Air )
Price : $ 90/$110 ( Mini / Air )
Buy : Grovemade.com
Bamboooregon
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