The IHaven iPad case looks good but doesn't justify its high price
CC Functional Art's IHaven iPad case offers elegant looks and substantial protection, but it's not without flaws, and its $165 to $239 price tag is tough to justify.
The IHaven is made out of solid wood—the company currently offers eight wood types—and simply constructed. It consists of a bottom shell that the iPad fits into and a cover piece that fits onto the front of the case when not in use or on the back when using the tablet. Two small, metal legs snap into the back to form a stand.
The first thing I noticed when using this case was its weight. It's not nearly as heavy as you might think, considering it's made out of solid wood. But an iPad 2 encased in the IHaven weighs in at about four pounds and is quite a bit bulkier than a bare iPad—I found it to be too heavy and bulky for a practical everyday carrying case.
But my biggest problem with the case is that it completely covers the iPad's Sleep/Wake button, rendering it inaccessible. Similarly, the thick edges of the case make it very difficult, though not entirely impossible, to use the iPad's volume buttons and side switch, headphone jack and dock-connector port.
Flaws aside, the case's solid construction does offer your iPad substantial protection from bumps and drops. I particularly liked the easy-to-use stand: You simply pull the metal legs out of their storage space inside the case's cover and then place them into holes on the back of the case. The stand is stable and works well in both portrait and landscape orientation.
The IHaven is undoubtedly visually appealing—its high-quality wood dresses up the already sleek iPad and is sure to complement many desks. And for an extra $125, your IHaven can be extra shiny (and expensive) thanks to the optional high-gloss finish. But while the IHaven looks nice, its flaws make it difficult to recommend, particularly when coupled with its price tag.
