The Purpose of a Keyboard Mat?

[TastaturenAuslese]

I really like the look of some set ups where you have a really large mouse mat that's under both the mouse and the keyboard. I've always wondered what the purpose of these were though?

It makes sense for a mouse, since it helps with the glide, but the keyboard doesn't really move. Is it to dampen the sound between the keyboard case and the table?

[TastaturenAuslese]

And I guess if that were the case (that the keyboard mat was for dampening the sound between the keyboard and the table), can someone recommend a good keyboard mat?

[trizkut]

Some keyboards have really crappy stock feet (like the HHKB) and tend to slide a lot on a desk, so the keyboard mats can be an alternative to replacing the feet on a case.

[rowdy]

https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=59308.0

Although I just use a folded sheet or drawer liner under mine.

[Heliobb]

I'm using a wood wrist rest because my keyboards are too hight. I's really better.
But the problem is the wood part is moving sometimes. Have to find something to let it stick on the table.

Here is some pics

[fanpeople]

I really like the look of some set ups where you have a really large mouse mat that's under both the mouse and the keyboard. I've always wondered what the purpose of these were though?

The purpose of mine is to please my aesthetic OCD, and it helps me put accidental holes in pieces of paper that I am trying to write notes on. Originally I would put things under my SSK to "protect the feet" but now I am not as paranoid any more. 

I think intended purpose is to hike the price of a product so as to make more money.

[Findecanor]

I have used them only at a previous workplace where they were on every person's glass desk. Apart from working as a mouse pad it also covered the front edge of the desk.
I tend to - despite some advice on the forum - rest my wrists on the desk in front of the keyboard. Wrists on glass or against a sharp desk edge is not comfortable.

Besides, they allow the mouse to always move all the way to the edge of the keyboard even if the mousepad or keyboard has been nudged out of place.

[Bromono]

A mat can also change the sound of the keyboard. I like how it sounds when it sits on some cushion rather then wood.

[Johan]

I used to have a qck+ for my keyboard with my first ducky that had massive ping issues. It made the sounds less apparent. I guess it can play nice with your wrists too?

[quake4mhg]

I use mine because I wanna fix my kb/m, mousepad position on my desk.
Or i'll move around left & right, mess up my gaming sitting position in front of my monitor with my foot switches. (Everything is related )



And of cos, quieter typing, comfortable for wrist.

[Clessiah]

I like to move my keyboard around depending on what I'm doing (gaming, editing, typing, browser...) and I do use different sizes of keyboards depending on my mood. However, I always prefer to have my mouse placed right against my keyboard. With a regular mouse mat, I need to move the mouse mat every time I move/switch the keyboard. With mat that is big enough to go underneath the keyboard I can move my keyboard freely without having to adjust the location of the mouse mat at all.

[Doyniish]

I use one at work to dampen the noise. Seems to work well.