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RatPadz GS mousing surface
Review Date: February 28, 2003
Reviewed by: Dwayne Sessom
Sponsored by: 2CoolTek.com
The long awaited, and much anticipated next generation of RatPadz has finally hit the shelves at several online retailers, and Ian from 2CoolTek was kind enough to supply us with one for review, even when his supplies were running low. The new RatPadz GS mousing surface is made with the gamer in mind (The GS stands for "Gaming Surface"), with several design changes from the previous RatPadz. Right off the bat, the first thing I noticed was it's weight. It is much lighter than my original RatPad. It also has a slicker surface, and different texture than the original. But, the size is about identical to the previous RatPadz.
RatPadz GS. Click for larger view.
Features:
- Ultraslick™ surface will give you another weapon to use on your way to a higher frag count.
- Shaved down edge on the surface, so that your hand and wrist rest in a position that does not promote fatigue.
- The Ratpadz™ Mousing Surface also has the most aggressive cut away of any premium surface on the market.
- LARGE SIZE: So much acreage, we nicknamed this surface, "The Back 40"!
- Ratpadz™ Mousing Surfaces have a durable construction proven NOT to wear quickly like the weenie mousepads.
- Lighter weight that previous RatPadz™.
For this review we will be comparing the RatPads GS against the original RatPadz as well as the new fUnc 1030 Competition mousing surface. Each are excellent gaming surfaces, so we wanted to comare them side-by-side to see which was best.
Here are the contenders:
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The contenders, front and back - Click for larger view.
First up, the RatPadz GS.
We tested this pad with our favorite games, as well as using it for everyday tasks like checking email and
surfing the web. The surface is indeed slicker than the original RatPadz, and facilitated more control in games - more precise rail shots in Quake3, improved flying in BF1942, and just an overall improvement in movement. Although the lighter pad feels a bit "cheap", it is in fact a design improvement that will keep the pad from warping over time, and it makes it more rigid as well. Again, we tested this pad with our favorite games, as well as using it for everyday tasks. While its a great pad, and always has been, original RatPadz just was not quite as good as the GS. The surface isn't as slick so you don't have quite as much control in
games as you do with the GS. I was first introduced to the fUnc 1030 by Chris Shea, the inventor of MouseWax. I have been using the pad for about 2 weeks or so, and in my opinion is the best gaming surface on the market. In gaming, the fUnc 1030 gives you even more precise contol than
either of the RatPadz do, and the 1030 is way flatter and has a solid rubber base so it doesn't move around on your desk at all.
I had both my kids who are avid gamers to try out the new GS. As we all know, a kid will tell you like it is and not hold a damned thing
back - they are notoriously brutally frank. Both of them agreed that the GS was better than the original RatPadz they they used previously, in fact they got into a fight over who would get to keep it after the review, so I will now have to buy a 2nd one. Jeez...
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RatPadz GS, front and back - Click for larger view.
Next up, the Original RatPadz.
The original RatPadz also tend to warp slightly over time when used heavily. Although this can be fixed by heating it and reshaping, it is an inconvenience.
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Original RatPadz, front and back - Click for larger view.
Last but not least, the fUnc 1030 Competition Mousing Surface.
The fUnc 1030 also has 2 different surfaces. You can flip it over, and use which ever surface best fits your needs. One side is very smooth with a fine texture on it that works great for optical mice, and the other has a slightly more pronounced texture that would be better for ball mice. Unfortunately, as great as the RatPadz GS is, it just can't beat the fUnc 1030 when it comes to gaming accuracy.
The down side to the fUnc 1030 is that is costs nearly twice as much as the RatPadz GS. The 1030 sells for $19.95, and the GS for $11.00 at 2CoolTek.
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fUnc 1030, front and back of surface - Click for larger view.
Thickness and size:
Since the new RatPadz GS has a steeper bevel than the original, it has a little bit more surface area. Probably not enough to be really noticable, but every little bit helps! The fUnc 1030 is slightly smaller that either of the RatPadz, so it looses out in this arena.
The height of the GS and original RatPadz are almost identical, but the fUnc 1030 is less than 1/2 the thickness of either of them.
In this comparison, the fUnc 1030 wins hands down, and after using all 3 it is the most comfortable to use, in my opinion.
Although both RatPadz have a rounded cutaway at the bottom for better comfort, I like the 1030 better because it's so flat.
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(L)RatPadz GS and Original, (R)RatPadz GS and fUnc 1030 - Click for larger view.
Conclusion:
The new RatPadz GS is certainly an outstanding mousing surface, and the price can't be beat. For just $11 USD, you can own one
of these babies, and in my opinion it is second only to the fUnc 1030 which costs nearly twice as much.
So, it's really up to you which you decide to use as your gaming surface of choice.
Although I can't prove it right now, I would say that the RatPadz GS would most likely wear better and last longer than any other pad tested and its also the least expensive.
Overall, the RatPadz GS is an outstanding product, and most definitely worth every penny of it's purchase price!
PCExtreme gives it an overall rating of 4X's!
For more info, see 2CoolTek's product page.
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