SteelSeries S&S mousepad review
SteelSeries is perhaps one of the most well-known mousepad brands. It all started about six years ago when they launched their Steelpad mousepad. This was one of the few aluminum mousepads available on the market and this got them a lot of attention. Over the years the firm introduced several other mousepads including glass, hard plastic, and cloth mousepads.A few weeks ago I checked out the cloth SteelSeries QcK mousepad and in this review I'm taking a look at one of SteelSeries' hard plastic mousepads - the SteelSeries S&S. This mousepad developed in cooperation with the SK.swe Counter-Strike team and was released in 2004 but was updated earlier this year. SteelSeries claims the second edition of the S&S mousepad features an improved surface.
The SteelSeries S&S mousepad ships in a cardboard packaging:
SteelSeries S&S specifications:
Inside the box, I found a nylon bag that protects the mousepad against damage during shipping. This nylon sleeve is great for people who go a lot to LAN parties, it will prevent that your mousepad gets dirty or damaged. The back of the sleeve also features a small zipper pocket, this can be used to store your mouse or perhaps some CD/DVDs.Material: Textured hard plastic Surface treatment: Coating Dimensions: 320mm*270mm (12,6 x 10,6in) - thickness 2mm (0,08in) Size: Medium Glide: Smooth Compatibility: Optical, laser, ball
It's also possible to get the mousepad without the sleeve, this will save you some money.
The top of the S&S is made out of hard black plastic. The surface measures 320mm x 270mm - about medium-size for a mousepad - and is only 2mm thin.
The surface of the S&S mousepad is textured but feels pretty smooth.
Included with the SteelSeries S&S mousepad are S&S padsurfers, inside this little plastic bag you can find five new feet for your mouse. These new feet are great if the ones from your mouse are already worn out, they will reduce friction and make your mouse glide easier over the mousepad's surface. These padsurfers are a lot more convenient than the regular mousetape which ships with most gaming mousepads.
Like most plastic mousepads the SteelSeries S&S mousepad should very durable if you treat it properly. It will last for a very long time and when it gets dirty you can easily clean it with some water. However, as the mousepad is very thin you'll have to be carefully that you don't bend it - otherwise it might snap in half.
The back side of the S&S is pretty shiny and features small soft rubber elements to prevent slipping.
Testing
To test the SteelSeries S&S mousepad I used the pad for about two weeks with the Logitech MX1000 laser mouse. One of the things I immediately noticed when I started using this mousepad is that it performs really well. My mouse's tracking was excellent and with the padsurfers applied my mouse glides pretty quietly over the surface of the S&S. I also tested the pad with the optical the Logitech V220 mouse and tracking was very accurate with this mouse as well.
Hard plastic mousepads like the SteelSeries S&S mousepad allow you to make very fast and accurate movements in games and other applications like Photoshop.
Conclusion
There are dozens of good mousepads available on the market but this hard plastic mousepad from SteelSeries won't disappoint you. The mousepad has an excellent surface, is very durable, and easy to clean. If you're a hard-core gamer you'll definitely appreciate the fast and accurate tracking you'll get from the S&S.
The biggest problem with the SteelSeries S&S mousepad is its price. The regular version costs 34.99EUR ($44.99) at SteelSeries' webshop and the SteelSeries S&S Solo (which doesn't feature the sleeve) costs 29.99EUR ($39.99). That's quite a lot of money for a mousepad, if you're not willing to spend so much money there are alternatives like the Revoltec Gamepad Precision Advanced which can be found for about $12.
The Good Stuff
- Very smooth surface
- Excellent for gamers
- Durable
- Ships with Padsurfers
The Bad Stuff
- Very expensive
I give the SteelSeries S&S mousepad a 8/10.
Added: September 8th 2007
Product reviewed: SteelSeries S&S mousepad
Reviewer: Thomas De Maesschalck
Score: 8/10
