A computer is not only a luxury item, but a tool for work. And some people spend 7-8 hours behind the monitor screen. Naturally, the user performs most of the actions with the mouse. And it is necessary that this tool works as best as possible. The speed of movement of the mouse and the accuracy of its positioning are greatly affected by the surface on which the slide is carried out. And it’s best to use a special mat, as certain problems may arise with a table or other surface. But you need to know what size of mouse pad to choose for a particular job. We will consider the most interesting options and give the necessary recommendations. But first, about the main thing.
What material to choose?
There is no consensus on this. It all depends on what purpose it is planned to use the mat. So, if you want to know everything about which mouse pad to choose, you must first decide on the material. After all, not everyone is suitable for a certain type of occupation. At the moment, the mats are made of such materials:
- Plastic. As a rule, the cheapest mats are made of such material. They have a colored, clumsy surface and are not suitable for activities requiring precise positioning. Optical mice, getting on a bright pattern, begin to behave inappropriately. Such rugs, as a rule, are short-lived.
- Bung. The basis for such carpets is a cork tree. They are suitable exclusively for old mice with a ball inside. Although this coating is durable, it cannot be called practical and convenient. Such a rug can easily rub decent corns on your hand. And modern optical mice cannot work with it. Not to mention laser.
- Rubber. This material is the best suited. But the mat should be plain. The rubber surface is perfectly attached to the table and does not allow sliding. Also on it, any mouse feels great. But such rugs, unfortunately, are almost nonexistent. And with longevity they had problems.
- The cloth. The most common material for the production of rugs at the moment. It features an excellent slip coefficient and allows you to accurately position the manipulator. In addition, high-quality rugs of this type are very durable. Washing and washing them is also very simple. This is probably the best material of all.
So, it is clear that you should choose a fabric surface. But it is imperative that it has a rubberized base that can be securely fixed to the table. Now you can move on to the size of the mouse pad. It all depends on what it is purchased for. Consider some of the most popular options.
Mat shape
Even this plays an important role. It is best to use rectangular worktops. Although there are round ones. But the latter are extremely inconvenient with prolonged use. A separate topic is rugs with hand rests. At first glance, this is convenient. But with prolonged use, discomfort appears. And the size of a mouse pad of such a plan a priori cannot be large. So it is better to refrain from acquiring such products. Nothing good will come of it.
Rugs for office work
The standard size of the mouse pad for office use should not exceed the size of an A4 sheet. This is the best option. Since mouse movements with a wide amplitude are not required in this case, the dimensions of the mat do not play the most important role. It is quite possible to do with the smallest instance.
Now about the material. Positioning accuracy and ease of sliding in this case also play absolutely no role. So for the office it is quite possible to use the cheapest plastic models. But the main thing is that they be monophonic. Then the optical mouse will behave normally, and the cursor will not fly outside the workspace.
Mats for designers
And here it is just the opposite. The size of the mouse pad in this case plays an important role. The smallest that can be allowed is a medium-sized working surface (355 × 254 mm). It will provide the most comfortable space for working with the mouse. In this case, it is desirable that the mat is securely attached to the table. In some cases, you can even stick it (if we are talking about a desktop computer).
For the designer, the ease of sliding of the main tool and the accuracy of the positioning of the pointer are important. Therefore, you need to choose exclusively fabric rugs. They allow you to correctly and accurately work with the mouse. But it is worth considering that good rugs of this kind are expensive. But the result in terms of ergonomics will be noticeable immediately. In addition, such surfaces are usually very durable. So problems with them should not arise.
Mats for gamers
And this category of users is incredibly demanding. And in games it is important to have a good response, positioning accuracy and ease of sliding. In addition, it will be unpleasant if, at the most crucial moment, the mouse slides off the work surface. Therefore, it is better to use mouse pads of a large size (from 444 × 355 mm). Only then can you get maximum comfort and achieve success. After all, it’s not for nothing that professional gamers ride championships with their own rugs.
And the material for the gaming version should have certain properties. Even fabric products are not suitable for a certain type of mouse. Therefore, the choice here is only individual. However, it is solely a fabric on a rubber base. And the type of fabric is a different story. For example, Bloody carpets are not suitable for mice with Teflon legs, as they have a somewhat rough structure. But mice with aluminum legs feel great on them.
Now consider the most interesting mats for gamers.
Bloody b-070
This is a great large surface from Bloody, designed for the mouse of the same name. The size of the gaming mouse pad, as mentioned above, is of great importance. And in this regard, the B-070 is doing fine. Its dimensions allow you to comfortably use the manipulator and write them any pretzel you like. In this case, the mat is securely attached to the table and does not slip. After all, its lower part is made of rubber. It is delivered in a colorfully decorated cardboard tube and is there in a folded state. That is why he needs some time in order to take a flat shape.
The mat is made of fabric material with small cells. The mouse’s glide over this material is simply excellent. And the positioning accuracy is impressive. The front side of the carpet has a cool design. In general, his whole style suggests that we have before us a product designed exclusively for gamers. This is a great gaming mouse pad for large size. Moreover, the price is not very high. Almost everyone can afford it.
Corsair Vengeance MM200 XL
This large gaming mouse pad has good specs. To begin with, its dimensions are 450 × 375 mm. It does not even fit on every table. Yes, and he stands decently. But there is something to overpay for. The carpet is made of fabric material with a pallet of natural rubber. Therefore, if you put it on the table, then it will lie on it, like glued. This is incredibly convenient and useful for gamers. The mouse slides over it almost perfectly. Virtually no effort is required.
The positioning of the manipulator is pretty accurate. And most importantly, there are no random slips when you click on the buttons. This product is great for gamers and ordinary users. However, the first time after unpacking, a specific smell will come from the mat. This is because it includes natural rubber. And it does not smell like violets. However, one can tolerate. Smell is not critical.
Razer goliathus speed
The Razer brand is well known among gamers. It produces high-quality (and very expensive) peripherals. The manufacturer also has very cool carpets. The Goliathus Speed line is specifically designed for games that require quick response and cursor movement. The working surface has a special coating that improves the sliding of the manipulator. But at the same time positioning suffers a little. And yet, the Razer Goliathus boasts an XL-sized mouse pad. Therefore, it is the best suited for professional players.
However, it is worth noting that the price of these rugs is just cosmic. But people buy them, because the sensations from them are simply indescribable. And the size of the Razer mouse pad is quite normal. Sufficient for comfortable use and achieving impressive results during the game.
Razer Goliathus Control
This version of the mat is intended for those games in which the exact positioning of the cursor plays an important role. It uses special material with a rougher texture. And so the cursor is like a glove. However, the slip is slightly worse than when using a carpet from the Speed series. But the dimensions of the rug are almost the same. And the base material is still the same - high-quality rubber that prevents slipping from the table. And if you are still wondering which mouse pad to choose, then stop at Razer Goliathus. These are excellent work surfaces with amazing features. Yes, you have to overpay for the brand, but it's worth it.
Conclusion
So, we talked about the size of the mouse pad. Now you know for sure that for more comfortable working at a computer it is better to purchase large rugs. They guarantee that the manipulator does not slip on a bare table. And if you are a gamer, then you can’t do without a carpet at all. It is better to buy surfaces made of fabric material with a rubber base. They are the best suited for any activity. The accuracy of positioning the pointer and the ease of sliding they have at a very decent level. But beware of cheap plastic products. They cannot provide the necessary comfort and accuracy.