Computers designed for gaming are made up of various elements and components capable of creating an ideal environment to enjoy games to the fullest: heart attack processors and graphics, monitors with a very high refresh rate and resolution, mechanical keyboards and customizable mice ....
But there are other elements that, at first, may seem unimportant and are capable of changing the way of using a computer to anyone who tries them: this is the case of mouse pads , as varied as they are crucial for a definitive experience at the time. to play or work.
The importance of using the correct mat
In the years of ball mice, we could choose not to use a mouse pad or to use the simplest possible: the key to its operation was in the friction that the ball exerted on the surface that it landed on..
Fortunately, that time is long gone, it is no longer necessary to clean the mouse ball every few weeks or suffer the hassle of their bulky sizes and weights: optical mice quickly and with quality, like the M800 mouse, of the Y series, Lenovo's gaming line.
These mice do require the use of a mouse pad, since the beam of light they emit in order to function generally needs a surface that is as uniform and reflective as possible to function..
Many users do not know more models of mat than the typical black cloth mat that we can find in any store, the most affordable, but it turns out that there is a really interesting world of materials and mats according to our personal and professional needs, whether they are precision and comfort to enjoy a good game to a shooter or to be able to design with comfort, but also sound, physiological and even thermal needs.
The materials of the mats: How to know how to choose the most suitable one
The most popular mouse pads are those made of cloth: they are cheap, simple and comfortable, but they are not the best for that. There are also mats made of plastic, aluminum and even glass.
The price, of course, varies depending on the quality of each material and the comforts offered to the user, but it is true that each type, regardless of its price, offers unique qualities and its own disadvantages that the others do not have. .
Cloth floor mats
The most used and well-known mats, as we say, are the cloth ones . Generally they are also the cheapest, but there are models with a better design that are manufactured by mixing various components such as silicone or rubber on the back for a better grip. Lenovo has its own model, called the Gaming Mouse Mat , belonging to its Lenovo Y gaming line, an example of a high-quality cloth mat, designed for fast gliding and long durability.
Fabric mats are reputed to suffer more intense deterioration than any other material mats, they also provide a worse travel speed, although they are ideal for not making noise or withstanding changes in temperature. Of course, if we have sweaty hands, they are quite an uncomfortable option, since sweat or water (be careful when washing them) can cause them to deteriorate even faster.
Plastic mats
Another type of mouse mats are plastic ones , perhaps the most balanced, since they have a better glide, a good temperature level, a very good durability and a low noise level when moving the mouse over it.
Possibly the only downside that can be put to this type of mats is that with the passage of time, with the pressure that we exert mostly in the center of it, we can see how the center will wear more and the sliding speed will be will be affected .
Aluminum floor mats
We arrived at a much more interesting type of mousepad for any gamer or lover of precision: the aluminum ones . They are much better at allowing fast mouse gliding, and also much more durable and resistant.
On the contrary, we find a much higher noise level when using them (especially at night) and much colder if we use them in winter. It is also often said that they are worse for surfers (those lower areas of the mouse covered with plastic or Teflon that serve as friction points), since they wear them very quickly. It's important to get a really thin aluminum mat to avoid this.
Glass floor mats
The mats made of glass are the most peculiar: they are not very common, but they are very interesting for lovers of perfection: they are extremely durable (although they are fragile, like all crystals) and allow a super fast glide on them.
On the negative side, these mats stand out for being very heavy , quite noisy, cold in winter and not all are compatible with all optical or laser mice, in fact, each manufacturer of mats usually includes a list of "compatible mice".
How does the use of mouse pads really affect?
Numerous studies have been carried out focused on obtaining results that determine at what level the use of one or another mat affects each user, and even the absence of them.
In general, and after carrying out exhaustive tests among a large group of users who tested the different existing mats, the general result made it clear that the differences between using one or another mat were due to custom rather than to the format of each mat.
Pre-tests were carried out, in which everyone used the mouse without any mouse pad, and then later tests were carried out, and each one with the mouse pad. The most noticeable result was a slight time delay on the part of all the participants when using the mouse without pads, and a shorter time with them, something that is understood due to the lack of practice of the participants in using a mouse without your mat. In short: the best mat will be the one that best suits our needs or tastes.
Images | 3d-zone | gaming | ytimg | oiarts | cloudfront | usabilitynews