Gaming mousepads!

[hfcobra]

No but you can go to any hardware enthusiast forum and find threads similar to this one.  At the end of the day this is a fourm with people who own $250 keyboards. I think that it's pretty funny to see these very same people raging on a $40 mousepad. I couldn't justify spending that kind of money on either.

On a side note, you would think that on a forum dedicated to keyboards that the posters would be using capitalization and punctuation.

besides, we are a keyboard forum, not a grammar and spelling forum.  

Just so long as you love whatever you type on, type away!

[Mercen_505]

Once upon a time I fell squarely into the "expensive mouse pads are for retards" camp. Newegg was running a special and I got my medium Goliathus for 14 USD with free shipping, or thereabouts. Possibly a little less. The small size was close to 9 USD. That's not a significant expenditure to try something out.

As it turns out, it was a great buy. I tossed all my old mouse pads and bought another Goliathus

Justifiable price or not, mousepads provide different friction options versus wooden tables.

This too. Tables, especially ones of the wooden type (heh) typically have uneven surfaces with areas that can cause certain mouse sensors to jitter or jump slightly. The mat will at least give you a consistent surface to work with.

[nmd]

I use a SteelSeries 9HD. I used to use a SteelSeries S&S, the 9HD is like the upgraded version of that with a much better grip so it never slides.

I've used all the Razer offerings, the PureTrak Stealth(best cloth pad imo along with the PureTrak Talent but it's too big) and the SteelSeries QcK.

Best glide for me, very thin profile, never moves when I'm using it  and it's just big enough.

[db_Iodine]

I use a SteelSeries 9HD. I used to use a SteelSeries S&S, the 9HD is like the upgraded version of that with a much better grip so it never slides.

I've used all the Razer offerings, the PureTrak Stealth(best cloth pad imo along with the PureTrak Talent but it's too big) and the SteelSeries QcK.

Best glide for me, very thin profile, never moves when I'm using it  and it's just big enough.

Sounds like you need to try the hich tech Japanese ****. The hard g3 has the best glide of all cloth pads I've ever tried. Definitely much better than the Qck.

[nmd]

Personal preference but I like hard surfaces compared to cloth. Easier to clean, last longer, no fraying at edges, etc.

[Amp]

What's it been, a few months since I posted on geekhack? I almost feel like I should reintroduce myself since no one would really know me anyway.

In short: I'm kinda hardcore into competitive gaming

I'm loving my Goliathus Speed Edition.

For those wanting just a little bit more ammo for the "gaming mousepads are legit purchases" argument:

1) Choice of mousepad offers control over your mouse's coefficients of static and kinetic friction. Some of us like for our mouse to have a nice grip on the surface (EWW WHY WOULD YOU?) while others like to feel like our mouse is gliding on air (master race).

2) Any good mousepad is going to offer consistent and good tracking on its entire surface. You can't really ask for this on other surfaces, especially wood desks which may or may not have an unevenness, dark spots which alter tracking ability, etc.

3) Now, take the properties in notes 1 and 2, and add to them the point that you will ALWAYS have them. For people like me who actually leave my house and go to PC video game tournaments and LAN parties, this one is truly invaluable. I don't have to assume that my mousing surface will be different from how it is at home, because I take it with me.

Outside of gaming applications, again, I'm not sure you'd really need something like a $20 mousepad for just goofing around in Word, Excel, or anything else you'd do with your computer (maybe Photoshop would be good to have high-precision equipment). However, for gamers, usually the priority list for what you will want to make sure is good equipment is:

1) Mouse
2) Mousepad
3) Headset
4) Monitor
5) Keyboard (Gotta be frank here, if the keys register and it's not some ****ed up uncomfortable layout, even membrane keyboards are fine. I'm just crazy and like mechanical.)

[YetAnotherDeveloper]

i have in the past been all about the hard surfaces and really never used any soft surface; except for the junk at my old office.  When i started working from home i got a new mouse and pad... i got the Goliathus Speed and i have been really happy with it so far.

[hfcobra]

well i just tried out the Artisan Kai 3G Hard and i think it is ok.   I really love my 9HD though, oh my this thing is just everything i ever wanted in a mouse pad!

Going to do a review over the 2 pads tomorrow on OCN if anyone is interested.  

[manfaux]

well i just tried out the Artisan Kai 3G Hard and i think it is ok.   I really love my 9HD though, oh my this thing is just everything i ever wanted in a mouse pad!

Going to do a review over the 2 pads tomorrow on OCN if anyone is interested.  

It would be cool to see a review for the artisan pads, I haven't used any pad besides cloth and aluminum and had a great interest in the Artisans and almost pull the trigger on one but eventually gave it up.. Already got 4 pads with me.

[speakeasy]

I still think you're all crazy Abyssus arrived today and it works just fine on my wooden desk.

That said, I still plan on buying the new edition of the Artisan Hien Samurai mousepads when they eventually come out just to make sure.

[HaiiYaa]

I still think you're all crazy Abyssus arrived today and it works just fine on my wooden desk.

That said, I still plan on buying the new edition of the Artisan Hien Samurai mousepads when they eventually come out just to make sure.

I think you are all crazy about keyboards. Dont get me wrong I love mechanical keyboards, but 1 is enough most of you have like 10 different kinds

Im the same way you are just with mousepads and mice

[Shuki]

1) Mouse
2) Mousepad
3) Headset
4) Monitor
5) Keyboard

Monitor in at number 4? Pretty outrageous stuff tbh.

What games do you play out of interest?

[db_Iodine]

I think you are all crazy about keyboards. Dont get me wrong I love mechanical keyboards, but 1 is enough most of you have like 10 different kinds

Im the same way you are just with mousepads and mice

It's great to just switch keyboards from time to time. I don't think I need many keyboards with the same keyswitch, but different switches.. I sure do.

[phillip]

Monitor in at number 4? Pretty outrageous stuff tbh.

What games do you play out of interest?

Yeah, mine would be like this:
1) Mouse
1) Mousepad
1) Headphones
1) Monitor
1) Keyboard

[Koeitje]

I've tried the Qck, but it wears down so quickly and isn't as nice and smooth as I want. Now I use a Puretrak Talent. It is easily the best pad I ever used. Also handles low sensitivity (35cm/360) + laser mouse (Xai) well. I still play on a CRT, while I use an LCD for normal tasks. Temporary solution until I can scrape together enough cash to buy a 120hz lcd.

[aynjell]

Yeah, mine would be like this:
1) Mouse
1) Mousepad
1) Headphones
1) Monitor
1) Keyboard

My requirements are probably easy to prioritize.

1) Video Card: I'd say first and foremost for gaming, a video card. If you can't run the game, there's nothing doing.

2) Mouse: If your mouse isn't capable of moving as quickly as you can, it's your next bottleneck, and for most competitive gaming, a mouse is required and is one of your most important tools to play the game.

3) Mouse Pad: If you could benefit from a mouse, you can benefit from a pad. It changes and further allows you to tweak the feel of your favorite mouse.

4)Headphones: Despite having a headphone fetish, headphones come dead last because most often users cannot benefit from them. They don't hear things correctly or listen correctly. This is so often the case that there's actually a market for "gaming headsets", which often times are just garbage with a mic... and people are so bad at listening they actually think these devices are good.


Some of you may notice that the keyboard isn't on the list. It doesn't fit in anywhere unless you have a keyboard that has issues with the cluster of keys you use. Other than that, it's just a feel thing.

[hfcobra]

My requirements are probably easy to prioritize.

1) Video Card: I'd say first and foremost for gaming, a video card. If you can't run the game, there's nothing doing.

2) Mouse: If your mouse isn't capable of moving as quickly as you can, it's your next bottleneck, and for most competitive gaming, a mouse is required and is one of your most important tools to play the game.

3) Mouse Pad: If you could benefit from a mouse, you can benefit from a pad. It changes and further allows you to tweak the feel of your favorite mouse.

4)Headphones: Despite having a headphone fetish, headphones come dead last because most often users cannot benefit from them. They don't hear things correctly or listen correctly. This is so often the case that there's actually a market for "gaming headsets", which often times are just garbage with a mic... and people are so bad at listening they actually think these devices are good.


Some of you may notice that the keyboard isn't on the list. It doesn't fit in anywhere unless you have a keyboard that has issues with the cluster of keys you use. Other than that, it's just a feel thing.

i like your list, it is a good one and something that i believe as well.

[phillip]

Well, I guess it depends on the games.  CS will run on virtually any video card and you definitely need to have a quality pair of headphones (and know how sound works) otherwise you'll be dead really quickly

[hfcobra]

Well, I guess it depends on the games.  CS will run on virtually any video card and you definitely need to have a quality pair of headphones (and know how sound works) otherwise you'll be dead really quickly

i have some sennheiser HD555's that i modded to HD595's.  I love them    great for music and games!

[aynjell]

Well, I guess it depends on the games.  CS will run on virtually any video card and you definitely need to have a quality pair of headphones (and know how sound works) otherwise you'll be dead really quickly

Most gamers still think gaming headsets are the best of the breed for gaming. For these people, there is no use upgrading to good headphones, but yes, having a good pair of headphones for games like this is paramount, but more importantly being able to use them comes first, and without that, it's not much use to buy an expensive set of cans. There's no benefit if you can't hear it. Arguably if you buy the headset you'll begin to hear it but I found that without having spent many hours intently listening to music critically, I wouldn't have the ear for sound and space I do now.

Most games are more about what you hear than where you hear it, however. In WoW, Quake, Unreal, etc, more often than not you can get by simply listening to the actual sounds and not the placement of the sounds. You can hear the pickups, etc. It helps being able to determine if your enemy is behind you or left or right. Spacial awareness in relation to sound is paramount to truly be good at the games you're playing. But for most gamers, whom are neither capable nor interested in being better at listening it means that upgrading headphones is just short of worthless thus it's placement on the list. Everyone benefits from the first 3.

I'm still disgusted that the vast majority of wow players run wow at like 10FPS. Give those users a GTX260 or better and a razer naga or something similar and it will revolutionize the way they play. Not necessarily true for headphones. After all, I play WoW with the sound off because it effectively is something to do while I listen to music.

[.XL]

Thanks to this forum, I have spent entirely too much money on computer inputs. Just bought the Artisan Kai Hien off Amazon.

linky for others who want these Samurai mousepads...

Oh, and I accessorized, too. Mionix Naos. FTW.

[aynjell]

Thanks to this forum, I have spent entirely too much money on computer inputs. Just bought the Artisan Kai Hien off Amazon.

linky for others who want these Samurai mousepads...

Oh, and I accessorized, too. Mionix Naos. FTW.

I should consider one of these sometime. I should read reviews first, of course. =)

[.XL]

I should consider one of these sometime. I should read reviews first, of course. =)

Spontaneous purchases are the best kind. Just get it, sheesh.

Plus, it's like $17. If you don't like it, toss it

Though I'm a firm believer of the old adage 'you can't go wrong with anything that's got a SAMURAI on the FRONT OF THE BOX'

[phillip]

Thanks to this forum, I have spent entirely too much money on computer inputs. Just bought the Artisan Kai Hien off Amazon.

linky for others who want these Samurai mousepads...

Oh, and I accessorized, too. Mionix Naos. FTW.

GUP is selling evo-g mouse bungees and weights as their own products?? lol

[.XL]

GUP is selling evo-g mouse bungees and weights as their own products?? lol

They might use the same manufacturers for both. Lots of japanese/korean companies do this. By this I mean have many manufacturers that make many different things all sold under the same brand or another company brand.

[Arc'xer]

They might use the same manufacturers for both. Lots of japanese/korean companies do this. By this I mean have many manufacturers that make many different things all sold under the same brand or another company brand.

If you go to some of the Asian sites they resuse some of the products with their own branding. Like at the rantopad website they sell mouse bungee with their own branding despite the fact they are the same mouse bungee that Razer is planning on re-releasing as their own brand from the original manufacturer unless that manufacturer wasn't the original and there is a primary company at some other place and it's just the branch they bought with some of the branding rights.

[phillip]

They didn't even change the branding...just the exterior packaging lol

[manfaux]

ya what's up with razer branded mousebungee? Razer was going to release it back in Q4 2010 according to the press release. No word ever since. i need to buy one of those!

[denydog]

When my sister asked me for a Christmas gift idea, I asked for a Steelseries SX.  I like it a lot, but especially after lubing it up with silicone grease I got from a dive shop.  I spread a little around, and give it a light buff.  It's not greasy, just slicker than...

I have to admit I get a little feeling of satisfaction after lubing up the pad.

[aynjell]

I have the mouse bungee, as in, the actual mouse bungee. I love it. It'd do a lot better if I could position it more freely though. It's a natural mate with my mouse, but it hates my desk.