SteelSeries mousepads

There were very rare times in my life where I had come close to finding wonderful mousepads: fast, flat, and large enough for me. Some that were fast...that did not seem to force me to drag my mouse around...were not large enough and I would run out of mousepad before the cursor would get to where I wanted it to go.

For this review I am using a Logitech MX400 Performance Laser Mouse. (It is my inexpensive default mouse of choice.)

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SteelSeries 5L

15 x 11 inches

0.2 inches thick

After removing the mousepad from the packaging I was very surprised to find that it is stiff and flat. (I expected it to be as flexible as a piece of cloth.)

It has five different layers:

the bottom layer has small, soft, non-slip rubber elements...

the next layer is a hard, plastic compound to hold the shape of the mousepad...

the middle layer is soft rubber foam, to soften the experience of the mousepad...

plastic-coated cloth is on top of that...

followed by a thin plastic coating.

And, boy, is this mousepad fast! 'Nuff said...it's fast...very fast.

Though most other mousepads I've used don't seem to have enough area, this one seems to be more than twice the width I need. I'm not complaining...

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Next I tried the SteelSeries SX.

It's considered to be a "medium-sized" mousepad: 12.6 x 10.6 x 0.08 inches...

The rubber base absorbs noise and vibrations, and it's made of fiber polished aluminum with an anodized oxide coating.

After removing this one from it's packaging, I had that "Christmassy-like" feeling as I grunted with joy. This mousepad is metal, and the bottom is rubber. I imagine it will always be much slicker and faster than the 5L.

A polishing cloth is provided...and what appears to be feet that you can add to the bottom of a mouse (so it will slide better).

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The SteelSeries 4D measures 11 x 10 inches with a thickness of 0.04 inches, and is double-sided for low and high sensitivity gamers. It's compatible with an optical, laser, and ball mouse.

A non-slip rubber base...as thin as netting (membrane thin, if you will)...is provided. Also included are feet that are attachable to a mouse.

When I opened the package, the thinness caught me off-guard...I wasn't prepared for it to be "so much of nothing".

I was worried that, because of its dimensions, there wouldn't be enough mousepad for me to like...but I do: I have yet to run out of real estate.

And, it's speedy side is just as fast as...if not faster than...the SX.

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There are many options in the QcK line...

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SteelSeries iron.lady QcK (pink)

SteelSeries iron.lady QcK heavy (white)

SteelSeries iron.lady QcK highlights:

- M-sized cloth mouse pad

- 11.6 x 8.3 x 0.08 inches

The iron.lady QcK is made of a high quality cloth material, providing a precise and consistent glide...The mouse pad is available in pink and white and features iron.lady branding.

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SteelSeries QcK mass highlights:

- M-sized cloth mouse pad

- Heavy thickness eliminates uneven surfaces

- 11.2 x 12.6 x 0.2 inches

SteelSeries QcK mass is a super thick mouse pad made of a high quality cloth material...

...This mouse pad features extremely heavy thickness which results in a very unique feeling. While the mouse pad is much more soft and comfortable to touch, the height is also fairly massive...Other mouse pads from SteelSeries are very thin, aiming to provide a high quality gaming surface, as close as possible to level of the tabletop it's used on.

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The SteelSeries QcK-line of mousepads are made of high quality cloth material, providing a precise and consistent glide. All mousepads feature a specially designed non-slip rubber base which prevents the pads from sliding, no matter what surface the mousepad is placed on.

SteelSeries QcK mini highlights:

- S-sized cloth mouse pad

- 9.8 x 8.3 inches, thickness 0.08 inches

SteelSeries QcK heavy highlights:

- XXL-sized cloth mouse pad

- Heavy thickness eliminates uneven surfaces

- 17.7 x 15.7 inches, thickness 023 inches

SteelSeries QcK+ highlights:

- XXL-sized cloth mouse pad

- 17.7 x 15.7 inches, thickness 0.08 inches

SteelSeries QcK highlights:

- M-sized cloth mouse pad

- 12.6 x 11.2 inches, thickness 0.08 inches

The mousepad I tried measures 12.5 by 10.5 inches (the "basic" model). It, literally, is a cloth: I unrolled it from its packaging.

I had greatly lowered my expectations for this model...and I was wrong. I had planned on telling you about experiencing drag between the mouse and the mousepad, but I cannot: if there is any, I don't notice it.

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Before you purchase a mousepad...of course...consider the size of the area you plan to use it. If you plan on taking the mousepad with you from place to place, it will need to fit in a bad (backpack, portfolio, etcetera).

Game On: Steelseries Gaming Devices

Got GEAR?

From headsets to gaming pads, game and gender specific accessories for every gamer, steelseries wants you to know that they’ve got the gear you want and need!

Their line of headsets is quite impressive and includes something for every gamers personal preferences in size, type and style of device…guys or gals! Like the iron.lady full sized headset is a fav for the gals; fully loaded AND awesomely pink!

And guys, the next time some orc you’ve just pwned with your vicious pyroblast accuses you of having ‘big brass ones,’ tell them “Aw-hells-no! I’ve got the steelseries World of Warcraft custom Zboard, keyset & gaming mouse*!”

* Look for a more in-depth review of the World of Warcraft set next!

The steelseries ZBoard is truly an innovative idea that has revolutionized and customized the gaming experience like nothing since the “mouse” was introduced decades ago! And steelseries notes: “With its ability to adapt for any game through removable keysets the steelseries Zboard is a completely unique gaming keyboard. The “anti-ghosting" feature allows for 7 simultaneous keystrokes opposed to the standard 2-4 on other keyboards.”

From the moment I unpacked the Zboard I knew I was about to a have truly unique experience AND expected to travel along a steep and arduous ‘leaning curve’ before I would be able to even use this new toy, let alone master its use…but when I opened the package I found a small folded sheet of paper, with a few paragraphs of simple instructions (in many languages) which included the words “Check for Keyset Updates” (This comes into play in a moment).

I inserted the included CD, which loaded the “ZEngine” software, onto my Vista Home Premium, Q6600 quad-core based gaming rig, and loaded the interface that assists in customizing the board to your personal wants and needs. (Side note: the Zboard comes with a fairly standard QWERTY ‘keyset’ insert AND an advanced gaming ‘keyset’)

Each keyset has its own ROM or ERROM chip so ‘programming’ can really be simply changing the keyset out from one pre-configured keyset (like the FPS keyset included) to another (like the WoW-WotLK keyset) and in and of itself is completely reprogrammable! Once you’ve got your keyset in place, you can customize every key to do whatever is possible in the game to do with a keystroke or set of keystrokes…and you can simply save your setup, naming it whatever you want (CoD4 set) and make another customized set for another favorite game (like Team Fortress 2). Once set up, this leaves the gamer to PLAY the game to his or her fullest potential, without having to remember key combinations for different games…awesome!

My only ‘hiccup’ was that as soon as I plugged in the Zboard, the interface started and failed! But please, don’t take that out on steelseries …the Zboard I reviewed says plainly on the box that it supports UP TO Windows XP…and the instructions plainly say “Check for Keyset Updates,” and a quick trip to the download section of the website and I had the latest, VISTA compatible ZEngine up and running without another hitch. (Darn you RTM folks out there! LOL)

So the next time you get PWND by “EZTarget” in Call of Duty or Team Fortress, you’ll know I’ve traded my ‘big brass ones’ in for pair of steelseries tools…the Zboard and MMO Gaming Mouse!

Game ON!

Steel Series Featured on TechtalkRadio

We have posted the interview with CEO Bruce Hawver and Director of Marketing Kim Rom from Steel Series. The company produces professional products for the gamer and recently produced a mouse for the female gamer, the Iron.Lady Ikari Laser. Carol is raving about this mouse and said it has helped her in Team Fortress 2 gameplay. Even if her computer blows up while she's fragging, she'll go out with an Ikari in her hands! (She needs a new rig!)

Maybe we can get them on the new TechtalkRadio T-Shirts!

Check out the interview at http://www.techtalkradio.com/hardware/steelseries.html