Steelpad 4S Review - Page 2

Testing:

I found that having an almost perfectly flat surface for the mouse does make it more susceptible to dust and other particles. Occasionally I have to brush off the surface of the pad or the mouse feet to avoid small bits getting caught as the mouse slides along.

I first tested the Steelpad 4S with my Microsoft Intellimouse Explorer without the Teflon padsurfers. I noticed a small amount of friction when moving the mouse, especially from a stationary position. However, after I put the tapes on, this problem disappeared, with the mouse able to glide smoothly.

I did not experience any issues with ball mice, however as with the ample warnings provided, the Steelpad does not work with Logitech Mice other than the MX series. I decided to try this briefly with an old Logitech Mouseman Wheel optical, which appeared to have a mind of its own with random jumps and skitters all over the place.

My testing involved some precision sniping with the sniper rifles in UT2004. A fast paced game, often with large open areas demands the highest level of precision. I found that I could track enemies across large and small distances, as well as make quick adjustments better than I have been able to in the past. Having said that, you would already have to be playing at a certain level for the pad to provide significant assistance.

The mouse pad is definitely large enough to accommodate whatever you can throw at it. Ordinarily I wouldn’t even use even half of the surface area, but it worked great while flying aircraft in Battlefield 1942 which required significant movements in all directions for steering.

The mouse pad is not only for gaming, even if that is what it is mainly marketed for. For general applications - especially graphics programs, the high level of precision can make tasks such as graphics design and editing much easier and more efficient.

Conclusion:

The Steelpad is simply the best mouse pad I have tried to date. It wins hands down in all aspects including performance, aesthetics and quality. There is a perfectly balanced level of friction and slickness and as far as I can tell, an indefinite lifespan.

The only drawback is its prohibitive price tag of $50 USD; however for serious gamers the consistent high level of performance it offers without a need for replacement would definitely make it worthwhile.

Final Score: 90%

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