For all my testing, I used my trusty PS/2 Microsoft Intellimouse 1.1. It has served me well over the past three years, and continues to provide one of the best actions of any ball mouse on the market.
A leaflet is included in the box which shows how to assemble the thing for those who are less technically minded. The two grey bars are actually springs, and have a blue clip on top. Press the clip to separate it, and slip the mouse cable down the middle. When you have a comfortable length of mouse cable, clamp the cable down in the grooves on the back of the bungee. Easy! A company logo can even be placed between the mat and the base for corporate exposure.
I found a comfortable length for me was when the mouse was at either the left or right side of the mat and the bungee was slightly bending. The bending didn’t annoy me one bit, and was a welcome advantage over constantly tugging at the mouse cord to gain more length. The mat itself is made out of tempered glass, with one smooth and one rough side. I found that the Intellimouse loved either surface, and was a joy to use. Until the humidity shot up to 95%.
Even on the rough surface, sweat and grease on my forearm made the mouse ball slip. During these steamy Australian summer days, I had to constantly wipe the glass to get rid of the grease and sweat. Didn’t work – playing a game such as Quake III Arena was useless. No sooner had I started than the mouse wouldn’t turn when I wanted it to. In colder (and air-conditioned) environments this mouse pad would rock, but unfortunately it isn’t for Australian summer conditions. Stay tuned, I might give an update when winter hits...
Conclusion
I can’t really endorse this mat to gamers unless you have air-conditioning, or live in Antarctica. The bungee is very useful indeed, and prevents a lot of cord damage, twists and tangles. The glass is certainly very tough, but unfortunately attracts all the sweat and grease from my wrist. And at a list price of US$19.99, many people will steer clear in search of a cheaper alternative.
Tip to Everglide: how about making a normal mat the same size as the glass one?
- Pros
Bungee lives up to its promise
Cool blue color
Gamer’s best friend in air-conditioning
- Cons
Glass gets very slippery when sweat and grease are present
A little pricey
Rating - 7/10
