SteelSeries SteelPad 5L Review - Testing and Conclusions
(Page 4 of 4 )
I can't finish this review without actually using the mouse pad to get a feel for it. To do this, and be fair, I worked on the graphics for this review and utilized four different mousing surfaces. These were:
- The bare desktop
- Standard cloth-topped mouse pad
- The Icemat Black
- SteelPad 5L
Of the four, the desktop performed the worst when it came to absolute tracking of the mouse. It was MUCH more responsive on the other three surfaces than on the desk. The best surface for editing images was the Icemat. I found this as no surprise, however, since the Icemat is a precision mousing surface, while the SteelPad 5L was built especially for gaming. And finally, the best surface for just kicking some ass in a FPS was the SteelPad, hands down. When I was using the standard-issue mouse pad, I was constantly re-centering the mouse during game play. I must admit, I got carried away during the game, as well as frustrated, and tossed that mouse pad aside and kept playing on the raw desktop. The mouse was a little less responsive, but it was worth the cost since I didn't have to keep re-centering the mouse each time I hit the edge of the pad.
The Icemat performed awesome when editing the images, and well enough during game play, but the high speed moving and sliding across it's glass surface just didn't feel right. To be honest, it felt as if I was going to scratch it. The SteelPad 5L, however, took the high speed movements with ease and comfort. And not once did the mouse even approach the edge of the pad during my test gaming session.
As always, here are the pros and cons for this product:
Pros:
- Huge, oversized mouse pad (11 x 15 inches).
- Uniform, high-responsive mouse surface.
- Soft and comfortable to your wrist.
- Gaming is natural and quite responsive.
- Stays firmly in place, even under highly intensive gaming sessions.
Cons:
- I have none. This pad rocks.
Based on the above, this pad is quite deserving of the perfect 10 out of 10 score, and Dev Hardware's coveted Platinum Award. If you are looking for a gaming mouse pad, the SteelPad 5L should be high on your list. I can tell you that this pad has become a permanent fixture next to my gaming rig. At the time of this writing, I found the SteelPad 5L online for approximately $40. In my opinion, that is money well spent. If you are serious about gaming, then it's time to get serious about your mousing surface.
I'd like to thank the folks at SteelSeries for sending us the SteelPad 5L for review. If you have any questions about this product, please feel free to visit SteelSeries' website at http://www.steelseries.com/products/steelpad/steelpad_5l.
| DISCLAIMER: The content provided in this article is not warranted or guaranteed by Developer Shed, Inc. The content provided is intended for entertainment and/or educational purposes in order to introduce to the reader key ideas, concepts, and/or product reviews. As such it is incumbent upon the reader to employ real-world tactics for security and implementation of best practices. We are not liable for any negative consequences that may result from implementing any information covered in our articles or tutorials. If this is a hardware review, it is not recommended to open and/or modify your hardware. |
| Recommended by Dev Hardware |
|---|
|
