A mouse pad isn't just a pretty thing to style your desk. Here is a piece of a rubberized cloth, glass, plastic or silicone that protects the mouse best of all and allows not only to use its capabilities to the maximum, but also to save money on buying a new device. Therefore, the topic of choosing and caring for muscle mats is very relevant.
Why do you need a mouse pad?
If you need a new mouse pad, then for sure you want:
Nice to use a computer;
Get rid of the noise of jerking the device on the table;
Long-lasting work of the mouse.
How to choose a mouse pad?
The question of choosing a rug for professional gamers is not a joke. After all, the outcome of the game depends on how the mouse glides, whether the coating itself under it glides, and whether the material is pleasant to the touch. And this, at times, is a lot of money and trophies. It is equally important to choose a good "component" for the job.
Types of rugs
Rugs need to be sorted not by their appearance, but by the materials from which they are made. Distinguish:
Plastic;
Gel;
Rubberized;
Reversible rugs.
The most popular model today is plastic. It is, accordingly, the cheapest. You can also find a transparent glass mat, which practically does not differ in price. Although it looks interesting, it is more suitable for optical mice. And now they are not in trend.
Gel mouse pads are most often seen in the office, where people work at the computer for a very long time, rather than having fun. Although, who like. The main difference between these rugs is a soft silicone cushion, which allows you to work for 8 hours in a row for wear. But only to work, and not to hand out headshots to zombies.
Rubberized, or fabric, mouse pads are quite another matter. The brightest representatives of this group are A4Tech X7, Razor, SteelSeries rugs. Their upper layer consists of fabric, on which the mouse moves well, and the lower ball - the base, is made of corrugated porous rubber, so that the coating does not slip on the table.
The peculiarity of double-sided rugs is the different functions of their sides and, therefore, a different coating on them. Gamers are happy to buy such things, since on one side it is very convenient to play, say, Dota 2, and on the other - to conquer the air in War Thunder. Such rugs are, of course, more expensive than others.
Dimensions of rugs
In retail chains you can see not only mouse pads standard sizes, close to a square, but also very impressive specimens, sometimes reaching a meter in length and half a meter in width, occupying the entire table. These are most often taken for games when you need to put 3 ranks of enemies from the "Kalash".
The appearance of the rugs
Even at the beginning of the article, we paid attention to the fact that rugs, first of all, need to be distinguished by materials. This is why the design item was only the third. Why not highlight a few products that match their characteristics, and then think about the beauty of the picture.
How do I care for my mouse pad?
Caring for a rug is a very responsible, but at the same time uncomplicated task, which can be done in literally 5 minutes.
Plastic and glass mats are cleaned a couple of times a month with a sponge soaked in dishwashing detergent.
On gel, rubberized and double-sided mat at least once a month you need to walk with a soapy sponge, and then wipe it with a swab dipped in alcohol. If the computer is often "chased by teas", then once a week you should get used to picking up a brush with a short bristle and gently brushing off dust and dirt.
If you follow all the tips, then you can choose a mouse pad that will be convenient to work with at the computer. Dirt will not stick to the "tailed" itself, it will not be scratched and will increase its service life.
If you are lucky and you found the first computer clubs or computer science classes in schools, then remember well those terribly uncomfortable hefty wired mice, as well as the rugs worn by time and users under them. Today, this symbiosis can be found less and less and, nevertheless, some still ask the question: is a mouse pad needed?
Older mechanical ball mice did require a rough surface of the mat underneath for normal operation and more accurate positioning. However, today such manipulators, except in museums, are nowhere to be found - they were quickly replaced by comfortable optical and laser mice, which have excellent positioning on almost any surface.
For optical and laser manipulators like a mouse today, a rug is no longer needed - they work perfectly on any flat surface, and with proper skill and not only on a flat surface. Modern mice today are increasingly found with additional functions: they are wireless and work via a radio or Bluetooth signal, they have bright light indicators, additional multimedia buttons, etc.
Who can use a rug?
However, not everything is as simple as it seems at first glance. For avid gamers or designers, the accuracy of cursor positioning is of great importance, therefore, for games and work in graphic editors, there really is a need for a rug, but it is more related to professional activities than to the work of the mouse itself.
Laser gaming mouse Defender GM-3000 Bullet
Otherwise, we can safely say that mouse pads have outlived their usefulness - on the desktop, as a rule, space is so limited, so few people want to litter it with a rug. However, this is already a matter of taste for everyone - as it is convenient for anyone.
Choosing a mouse pad. PART 1. Optics versus laser.
Many people wonder what kind of play mat the best. But this question can be quickly and unambiguously answered: "THE BEST Rug DOES NOT EXIST!" You will get exactly the same answer if you ask "what is the best clothes?" Do you see what I'm getting at? That's right, it all depends on the situation. The choice of the optimal rug depends on many factors. I will single out the most important, in my opinion. First of all, this is the type and model of your gaming mouse. The point is that different sensors on different surfaces can behave differently. The second is your play style: how you hold the mouse, what sensitivity you use, what movements you make. Based on these criteria, you can find a good rug. To do this, you need to know what the rugs are, what are their main properties, etc. Let's start in order.
Material type
Fundamentally, there are solid and fabric rugs. Hard rugs are usually made from various types of plastic, aluminum, glass, etc. Fabric rugs are made of fabric (logical). There are also various hybrid multi-layer artsy rugs, they are very specific and there is no need to talk about their specific properties.
Sensor type
Despite the fact that almost all modern optical mice work on almost any surface, such qualities of a mouse as maximum speed and lift-off distance can vary greatly depending on the surface. Optical LED mice (i.e. regular optical ones) perform better on cloth mats, while lasers perform better on hard surfaces. Why it happens? The fact is that rag carpets have a coarser texture than hard ones. Those. depressions and protuberances on them are on average larger. These are the properties of any fabric. When such a carpet is illuminated with a red LED, we get a set of light and dark spots of different shapes. This pattern is perfectly perceived by the sensor. In laser mice, the surface is illuminated by laser radiation. It is poorly scattered and is reflected from the surface by a narrower beam. and hits the light-sensitive matrix of the sensor at an angle. If a narrow laser beam hits a "large" hole between the threads of the fabric mat, it may turn out that some of the radiation will fly a little in the wrong direction or will not hit the sensor at all. In addition, the angle of reflection of the laser can change even if you just lift the mouse slightly or press the right or left button. A laser needs a more uniform surface with slight irregularities. Materials such as plastic, aluminum, glass are perfect for these requirements. To summarize:
1. FOR OPTICS - THE CLOTH;
2. FOR LASER - PLASTIC.
These conclusions are perfectly confirmed by the example of SteelSeries laser mice based on the Avago A 9500 sensor: Xai, Sensei. When used on a rag carpet, their maximum speed is noticeably reduced. Cursor jitter, negative acceleration, etc. may also appear. In general, I do not recommend it.
SteelSeries Xai on SteelSeries QcK rag mat. 1800 dpi / 1000 Hz.
By the way, even using a rag mat with an optical mouse does not always eliminate problems. Rag rugs are made from different materials, and some of them can be difficult for the mouse to perceive. A typical example of this phenomenon is the mouse based on the Avago S3988 sensor - Razer Deathadder 3.5g and Razer Abyssus, both 3500 dpi. The quality of their work VERY MUCH depends on the surface. For example, using SteelSeries QcK + or QPad UC rugs becomes simply impossible.
Razer Abyssus on QPad UC-XL
The mat is designed to provide precise positioning of the mouse cursor and prevent the manipulator from slipping. Plastic or wooden countertops usually do not provide adequate signal transmission. Also, the comfort of the hand and the level of its fatigue during work depends on the mat.
An optimally matched mousepad guarantees smooth sliding of the mouse, its low level of pollution, and, accordingly, accuracy of work. In a word, such an insignificant device can make it easier or more difficult to use a computer.
Main selection criteria
The purpose of the rug
Rugs can be conditionally divided into two groups - play and work. Increased requirements are imposed on the former, since the accuracy of aiming and positioning is very important during the game. These mats can have different sizes depending on the preferred games - large ones are suitable for strategies and RPGs, shooter fans will find it convenient to use small and medium mats designed for high mouse sensitivity.
First of all, work mats should be comfortable to prevent wrist numbness during use. For this purpose, work mats are often fitted with a soft pad that rests on the wrist. It contributes to long-term work without fatigue, but it is completely unsuitable for games - the hand is constrained in movement and is unnaturally high above the mouse.
Mat structure
According to the material of manufacture, rugs are divided into rag, plastic and rubber. There are also less common varieties - gel or cork. Rag models have a smooth surface, but the accuracy of mouse movement will not be very high. The advantage of this mat is its low cost, it is used mainly by ordinary PC users.
Due to the dense structure of their surface, plastic mats provide particularly precise cursor positioning, which determines the gaming scope of their application. They are universal and can be used for both laser and optical mice.
The rubberized surface provides a good grip on the mouse. Low cost and a variety of colors allow you to use such a rug for both games and work.
Ease of use
For different purposes, you need to choose rugs with different characteristics. For example, for a laptop that is often used in tight spaces, you need to choose a small rug with a rigid base that does not require a flat surface.
For fans of several genres of games, it will be convenient to choose a rug with two surfaces. For example, the first will contribute to more precise cursor movement, and the second - the speed of mouse movement.
Photo: place4.pro
Other selection criteria
For many fans of computer games, the decisive factor is the image applied to the surface of the rug. For ordinary users, color matters - bright colors will fade over time and become covered with dark spots. The shape of the rug is also a selection criterion. There are round, oval, rectangular and other shapes.
Most popular manufacturers
Brand rugs A4Tech are of sufficient quality and affordable. A distinctive feature of this product is a high coefficient of surface friction, which ensures accurate signal transmission from the mouse. Among the disadvantages are low grip on the table and the possibility of bending the edges.
German manufacturer of mouse pads Tex-Mat cooperates with leading game developers. On their product, they depict pictures and symbols of computer games. Quite low price and decent quality have won the recognition of this rug by many gamers.
Rugs Roccat sense are among the thinnest. Despite the thin layer of rubberized surface, it nonetheless adheres perfectly to the table and provides a high level of mouse control precision. The disadvantages include a rather rough surface, not very pleasant to the touch.
Photo: www.retailidea.ru
Common buyer mistakes
There are cork rugs that attract customers with their low cost and attractive appearance. Experience shows that such rugs will soon not only erase the legs of the mouse to the base, but also lead to the formation of calluses on the hands at the point of contact with the rug.
Another common mistake when buying a mouse pad is purchasing models with silicone pads. This is especially true for gamers who expect to reduce the load on the arm due to this device. Contrary to their expectations, it will not be possible to play most computer games on this rug. This is due to the impossibility of moving the mouse over the entire area of \u200b\u200bthe carpet due to pressing the hand against the pillow.
According to researchers, the average Russian spends 158 minutes a day at the computer. Office workers, freelancers, designers and representatives of many other professions sit in front of monitors for at least 7-8 hours. In addition to the familiar numb back, reddened eyes and tired neck, many are faced with another consequence of long sitting: from prolonged work with an uncomfortable computer mouse, the arm gets tired and starts to hurt. If we talk about designers and gamers, the question arises about the smoothness of the cursor movement or its speed. However, choosing the right mouse is not always enough for a comfortable work - the mouse mat is also important.
At first glance, you might think that a computer mouse pad is some trifle, you can choose any. But when comparing rugs, it becomes obvious that they differ in many ways. The same rug will behave differently with different mice. Moreover, for different purposes and conditions of use, different rugs are needed. For example, professional designers and gamers are interested in characteristics that will become disadvantages for an ordinary user, and vice versa. Therefore, to choose a rug that is right for you, you need to figure out how they differ.
What makes mouse pads different
Cover material
The mat surface is the most important characteristic that affects the efficient operation of a computer mouse. There are two criteria for the performance of the mouse, which are influenced by the material of the mat covering: the absence of jerks and the speed of the mouse sliding. If we talk about the second, then depending on the purpose, the rug can contribute to either accuracy or cursor speed. The coating materials themselves are of cork, glass, aluminum, plastic, fabric, polycarbonate, polypropylene, and leather.The cork cover is suitable for owners of old mice with a wheel. If you have a laser or optical mouse, it is better to choose a different mat, as such a coating will at best erase the legs of your mouse, and at worst it will rub a callus on your wrist.
Glass and aluminum coatings contribute to the fastest and most accurate mouse glide on the mat. This will be especially useful for fans of shooters, where the cursor must move at maximum speed. It is also worth noting that these rugs are the most durable. However, laser mice can experience glitches and delays when working with glass and aluminum coatings. Also, the downside is that these materials feel cool to the touch, which can cause discomfort.
Plastic mats are universal for all types of mice. They will provide accurate cursor movement and good speed.
The polycarbonate coating provides the sliding speed of the mouse, which is indispensable for gamers. However, compared to glass coating, polycarbonate is not as durable.
The fabric cover will provide a soft glide at the expense of speed. This option is most convenient for ordinary users and office workers who do not need to deal with design and computer games.
The polypropylene coating provides a soft glide. The advantage of this material is its durability and ease of maintenance.
Leather rugs look the most stylish and beautiful. But this is where their advantages end. This option is suitable for a manager's desk who spends more time on the road.
It is worth noting that there are double-sided mats, the different sides of which can both serve the function of improved control of cursor movement and contribute to high mouse speeds. This solution will be useful for designers, artists, as well as gamers who like shooters and strategies at the same time.
Base material
The base of the mouse pad does one single, but important function: it secures the mouse pad to the table so it doesn't move while you work. Therefore, the main criterion for choosing a base is the maximum fixation of the rug on the surface. Rug bases are made from a variety of materials: rubber, plastic, rubber, polyurethane, silicone.
The rubber base fits snugly against the table making it popular with users. This option is suitable for everyone: both gamers and office workers.
A plastic base most often means that the rug has no base: it is made entirely of plastic. A base made of this material is the worst choice for almost any purpose.
The rubber base is the most popular and versatile. It fits quite tightly to the table, while easily moving if necessary. In addition, this option is the most budgetary.
The polyurethane base has all the properties of rubber and is more durable. But rugs with such a base are not so common.
The silicone base is the closest to the table. In order to move such a rug, you even need to make a little effort. This option is ideal for designers and artists who draw on the computer, for whom it is important that the cursor does not accidentally move.
Mat size
This parameter is not for everybody. Of course, for games and design work, it is better to take a large rug, but this is not so important. It is worth choosing the size by trying to work on rugs of different sizes and determining the optimal one. In terms of area, rugs are large (over 300x300 mm), medium (200x200 - 300x300 mm) and small (up to 200x200 mm).
Mat thickness
This characteristic, again, is for the user's taste. Someone likes it when the brush is located a little higher, someone - on the contrary. The thickness of the mat will be especially important if it is to be transported regularly. For example, a laptop mat should be thin and light, and rolled up if necessary. And about gamers who go to competitions with their own rugs, everything is clear and so.Wrist rest
To ensure the most comfortable position of the hand, fingers and palm, there are mouse pads with a wrist rest. They are made of soft silicone and hold the wrist at the same height as the hand. Mats with a wrist rest help to significantly reduce hand fatigue, which is indispensable for office work. However, for gamers and designers, they are not suitable, as the stand fixes the brush, limiting the movement of the mouse beyond a small range. It is also worth noting the fragility of such rugs, as the wrist rests quickly break.
Rug design
This is an important parameter, since the rug will delight (or upset) you every time you sit down at the computer. Design is especially important for gamers who decorate their entire gaming space in the same style - in this case, the mat should fit not only the mouse, but also all other details of the space.Computer mouse pads are often painted with various images, be it abstract patterns, nature photographs or logos of famous games. There are also rugs with a 3D image, which changes depending on the angle of view. If we talk about rugs with a wrist rest, then there is even more choice of original solutions. For example, one of them:
The variety of rug shapes is also not limited to standard rectangles. The choice depends on the user's taste, but remember that the mat should have enough space for the purposes for which you plan to use the mouse. For example, a gamer should not buy a nice but small round rug.
There are also various "bells and whistles" on the rugs. For example, this can be a backlight, USB ports, built-in sound card, memory card, mouse cord holder, calculator and much more. You shouldn't pay attention to such chips if you don't plan to use them.
Criterias of choice
Mouse pads are more than just a cool addition to your workspace. In fact, this is an important attribute that will help reveal all the advantages of a good mouse, as well as preserve the strength and health of the user. Therefore, before choosing a rug, you need to decide what exactly you will use your mouse for.For home use outside of work it is worth looking at small to medium sized rugs with plastic, fabric or polypropylene cover and rubber, rubber or polyurethane backing. You can pay attention to mats with a wrist rest. 
Small to medium sized rugs with plastic, fabric or polypropylene cover, rubber, rubber or polyurethane base and wrist rest are suitable for office work. 
