title

Product Application:

Cloth Mousepad

Product Provided by:

Corepad

Available at:

Newegg

Estimated MSRP:

$14.99

Availability:

Now

Review by:

Joe

Edited by:

Darren

Review date:

September 18th, 2007
 

 

     Mousepads are perhaps one of the oldest, yet most ignored peripherals in the computing universe.  From the stone age of computing to modern times, the mousepad has adorned nearly every desktop.  In the early days, mousepads were merely squares of plastic or cloth, but in the last 30 years, a lot has changed.  Now we have pads in every shape, color, and all kinds of materials.  On the  docket today is one of the more traditional styles, a large black cloth pad.  So let's take a look at the Corepad C1 Medium Pad.

Introduction:

     The box arrived in the mail a little worse for wear, but relatively intact.  The contents inside were unharmed, so that is all that matters.

     The vanilla version Corepad comes in three sizes; Medium, Large and XXXL.  The pad we are looking at is the Medium, and it clocks in at 12.8 inches by 11.42 inches, much bigger than a "normal" mousepad. 

Specifications

* Amazing flexible and smooth surface

* C1 Series available for all sensitivity mouse settings

* Maximum precision when aiming

* Compatible with all mice (laser and optical)

* Non-slip rubber backing

* Cleanable with damp cloth 

The Corepad C1 series:

1. Corepad C1 Medium 325 x 290 x 4.7mm / 12.80 x 11.42 x 0.19 in

2. Corepad C1 Large 455 x 405 x 4.7mm / 17.91 x 15.94 x 0.19 in

3. Corepad C1 XXXL 900 x 450 x 4.7mm / 35.43 x 17.72 x 0.19 in 

     In the above picture, we get a close-up view of the company logo and the the texturing that resides in the top layer.  The texturing provides a surface that optical mice can easily read off of, while at the same time providing a low friction feel.

     On the other end of the pad is the Corepad signature shapes design.   It also provides another opportunity to look at the surface texture.

     A quick look at the pad's nethers reveals a nice rubberized surface that keeps the pad from moving around.  We also can see the extra thickness in this pad that helps provide plenty of extra cushioning.

Testing and Performance:

     Of course, the whole reason to get a performance mousepad is to do some performance gaming.  First up, I fired up some C&C3:Tiberium Wars, and followed up with some Call of Duty 2 to satisfy my twitch urge.  In conjunction to the Corepad, I turned to my favorite cyber-trigger, the Razer Diamondback Plasma. 

     Compared to my existing mousepad, the Xtrac Ripper XXL, the surface of the Corepad is a little bit slicker, meaning less resistance to movement.  The added thickness also added to the padding which helped with comfort issues after a long gaming session.  The Medium sized pad bodes well for easy LAN party transportation or for a cramped desktop area, and is a bit larger than the "standard" mousepad.  However, after months of using the Ripper XXL, the size seemed a little diminutive.   If you feel the same as I do, definitely opt for one of the larger sizes. 

Conclusion:

     For a "Medium" mousepad, the Corepad C1 is actually pretty good size.  The top layer provides a nice smooth surface that makes for easy movement during gaming, and creates a lot less friction than many mousepads out there.  It is nice and thick, and easy to clean, which makes this an ideal mousepad for any gamer that prefers cloth to plastic or metal.

Note: Club Overclocker is now using a new rating system based on a score of 1 to 5.
Please go to our rating system page for more information.

Performance: 3 out of 5

Innovation:

3 out of 5

Quality:

4 out of 5

Stability:

N/A
Aesthetics: 4 out of 5

Software/Drivers Pack:

N/A

Overclocking:

N/A
Value: 3 out of 5

Project Skill Level
(5 being most difficult)

3 out of 5