| XTracPads Ripper Mousepad
|
Quality:
At a quick glance, you’ll realize how large this pad really is. Look at the comparison between a standard (8.5"x11") sheet of paper and the pad. When you flip this pad on its back, you realize its second important feature - the "sure grip" rubber that holds it in place. You won’t have to worry about this pad slipping, even on a laminated surface. On a final note, the black and white honeycomb design just looks sweet.
Operation/Use:
During the initial testing of the Ripper I refused to use the provided XTrac Eels on the mouse. The Eels are a special teflon tape that allows the mouse to glide better on the XTrac pads. Without the Eels attached to the mouse, the cloth pad added too much friction. It was difficult to navigate the desktop, let alone play games, as the cloth pad "grabbed" at the mouse. A quick installation of the Eels made an incredible difference in performance. Instead of being "catchy," the mouse now traveled with minimal effort.
Once the Eels were installed, the potential of the Ripper was revealed. The most impressive feature of the Ripper was its ability to properly track the mouse. Unlike other optical mouse pads, the mouse never once lost its tracking. This loss of tracking is a frequent problem for users without "optic friendly pads." In addition to the great tracking, I also was pleased with the size of this pad. Although this pad requires more desk real estate than your average pad, it also allowed much more free and comfortable movement. Instead of being restricted to a small 9"x6" box I had much more space to travel on this pad. Being that this pad is so large, you would expect it to lose points for portability, but this is far from the truth. Due to its cloth-like construction the Ripper can be rolled like a piece of paper or folded over and still return to its original smooth shape.
Conclusion:
XTracPads products are available from BigBruin.Com recommended online retailers such as Newegg and Jab-Tech, and with the Ripper mousepad priced around $14.00, it is well worth your money. The XTrac Eels will set you back a nominal $2.49 when purchased from Jab-Tech.
Gamers will appreciate the size and quality of the XTracPads Ripper mousepad. The pad tracks great and is perfect for any gamer that frequents LAN parties. If you do intend to buy this pad be sure to pickup the XTrac Eels (mouse feet) to go along with it. Without them this pad can snag and catch, otherwise it works great.
The Ripper is a great mousepad that is very comfortable to use during extended periods of time. However, for shorter periods of gaming (less than three hours at a time) I still prefer a harder plastic mousing surface. Keep in mind that this is a personal preference, and will be different for everyone.
Final Rating (4 out of 5 stars): 
Pros:
» Competitive price
» Large mousing surface
» Cool honeycomb pattern
» Flexible and portable
» Comfortable for extended use
Cons:
» If you have a plastic pad, this cloth pad will take some getting used to
» Might be too large for some desks
» For optimum use, you’ll need to purchase XTracEels (mouse feet)
Special thanks to XTracPads for providing the Ripper Mousepad to Bigbruin.com for review!
Please drop by the Bigbruin.com Forum and feel free to post any comments or questions.
|
|
|
|
