Written By:
Date Posted: March 18, 2002

I'd list a bunch of specifications for you, but the web write up explains it all:

1. A ratpad brings you killer accuracy on a mousing surface. Make the Ratpadz" Mousing Surface work for you and not the other way around like you are used to. If you are struggling with that old pad, STOP fighting it! This Ultraslick" surface will give you another weapon to use on your way to a higher efficiency at work. Optic mouse? No problema. Heck this thing is even great for graphics or CAD folks.

2. We have shaved down the edge on our surface, so that your hand and wrist rest in a position that does not promote fatigue. Nope, you won't need a chiropractor after Ratpadz" Mousing Surface usage. Comfort supreme baby. No more marks on your wrist that make people ask you questions like, "You been handcuffed or what dude?"

3. The Ratpadz" Mousing Surface also has the most aggressive cut away of any premium surface on the market. That means the arch at the bottom extends the width of the surface so you can use it all. This lets the surface conform to where you want to position yourself, instead of having to have your hand in the "right place". More comfort for us guys that will sit around and work for hours, means happier work hours. What is great is that the long sweep caters well to high sensitivity mousers as well as those guys that need two feet of travel while swinging their mice wildly!

4. That brings us to size. They may tell you size does not matter, but that is a load of BS when it comes to mousing. We have so much acreage, we nicknamed this surface, "The Back 40"! Ok, maybe not that big, but we have enough surface area that you are not going to worry about mousing over the edge when that rail shot is critical. If you do though, it is your fault. :) The ratpad measures a hefty 9-1/2 x 11-1/2 inches.

The Ratpadz" Mousing Surface is made with a special Ultraslick" polymer and can be washed off easily with soapy water or a weak cleaner like Windex or 409. Ratpadz" Mousing Surfaces have a durable construction proven NOT to wear quickly like the weenie mousepads. So go ahead an use it for a coaster, use two mice at once, heck, use it to serve pizza on because the Ratpadz" Mousing Surface can handle the abuse.

What immediately caught my attention was the size of this thing. It's freaking huge! Here's a shot of it compared to the fUNC...

The edges have been improved, according to the specifications. I never tried the first revision of the pad, but I know that despite being cardboard thick, the fUNC got uncomfortable after long usage. Anyone who has those marks on their wrists/palms when resting on the edge of a table knows what I'm talking about. The Ratpadz is also more comfortable since the surface is higher than the 3M and fUNC. Resting my hand on my mouse felt more natural with the Ratpadz. I never thought mouse pads made much difference for ergonomics, but it does.

What I liked about the Everglide was the fast surface. The "bumps" allows your mouse feet to glide smoothly, unlike a regular mousepad or desk. When I switched to the larger fUNC, the mouse seemed slower. This was the case for both surfaces on the fUNC. Although this may not mean anything to the regular consumer, if you're a gamer, you can appreciate the importance of a fast surface. The Ratpadz definently falls under the category of being fast. The surface is "bumpier", or Ultraslick, as they describe it. Here's a side by side comparison with the fUNC "fast" surface...

The surface is more pronounced on the Ratpadz, and the mouse moves around a lot faster than the fUNC's fast surface. I should mention that the fUNC offers a "slower", more sniper friendly side, so you no-skilled campers might want to skip the Ratpadz.

Nah, that was a joke. No-skilled campers can still benefit.

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