It’s smooth, but it has just the right kind of substantial, grippy texture.

Good because too many wooden cases that I looked at had finishes as smooth as the iPhone. I need something that will stay in my Inspector Clouseau grip.

I also like that you can slide off the bottom so that it can be docked. At least in the squat Apple style dock, it may not fit many speaker docks.

How heavy is it compared to a generic rubber or plastic case?

I like O Natural, personally. But for my iProducts, rubber is the only way to go.

It’s heavier, certainly, but I don’t find it to be particularly heavy, if that makes sense. I actually prefer the feel of my phone with it on now.

Having been asked about it twice in the last three days (“Oh my gosh! Is that an iPhone case?! Where’d you get it?”), it really does seem like a no-brainer for self-promotion, too.

Not too heavy then, good.

Seeing as one can order custom engraving you could put a business name or logo on it. An image of a loved one too.

I bought one of the Skech “Rise” hard rubber cases, gold to reddish orange gradient. It has a slight grainy surface akin to an egg shell. My wife liked mine so she got one in purple to black gradient.

Hey, that’s really gorgeous!

It is very nice looking.

As to protection it is certainly better than nothing, but certainly not in the class of something like the Otterbox products. More important to me is that it has a grain to the surface so that it doesn’t slip out of my hands, or pockets, so easily.

It’s an outstanding product.
(And not heavy at all.)

I have this one:

http://ereaderjoy.blogspot.com/2011/05/grove-birdland-iphone-case.html

Oh, eolake, that’s beautiful!

Yes it is! I like the way your wallpaper matches the engraving on the case.

A slightly cheaper option for the artistically/aesthetically inclined might also be the cases by uncommon. They have a wide range of incredible designs, and can also do custom prints from images you provide for the same price. The cases range from $25-40, and also don’t include a screen protector, but you can use a thin film protector with it.

I got a custom one done for my new 4s, and it came out great.

I like the way your wallpaper matches the engraving on the case.

Yes, they provide those. And it’s the wallpaper I’ve kept the longest so far. (Though I changed the color from bright blue to sepia.)

Warning though: I also had an iPad case made, with one of my own drawings etched into the black leather. But it turned out that it is all but invisible, not worth it in my opinion.

Warning though: I also had an iPad case made, with one of my own drawings etched into the black leather. But it turned out that it is all but invisible, not worth it in my opinion.

The leather is probably too thin for a deep enough engraving to show it with sidelight. Maybe the engraving could be inked.

The case looks lovely. I don’t have an iPhone but I thought I had seen this case for a whole lot less than $70.

I did, it wasn’t Grove but a case by EcoMatrix. (I’ve never heard of them, never bought anything from them, they could be junk for all I know But…)

They are $25 from this site. (Did I mention that I’ve never purchased anything from this site?

Unix Surplus

It was a strange product to find on a site that sells used servers. They also have a bamboo keyboard and mouse!

Cool stuff.