Who still uses a mouse mat?

[Taz]

I replaced my dad's old PC last weekend and noticed that he still had the old mouse mat I had given him almost a decade ago. It was still wearing well but obviously showing signs of wear. I haven't used a mouse mat for at least 6 years now.

I felt terrible that I'd given him a shiny new PC but forgot about a new mouse mat. So, I've ordered one for him now. In fact I ordered two as I want to start using one again to see if it feels better than using the mouse on the desk surface.

Who still uses a mouse mat?

[virtuo]

Me, I've got a cheap IKEA desk and it scratches too easily. I've got a big "Gaming Surface" and the mouse glides effortlessly and silently over it.

[Giraffe]

Well, not a mat as such because I been using a trackball for about 15 years (my hands are too big for a mouse), but I have a closed-cell foam mat so that my hand isn't on the cold desk. Don't suppose that counts.

[Spreadie]

I have a desk mat - 900x400mm

Does that count?

[DanceswithUnix]

I have a glass mat that has a picture on it, so really low friction and easier for the optical sensor to track features on than a fake woodgrain effect of a desk surface.

I occasionally see the old cloth ones that are intended to help the ball of an old 90's mouse grip and wonder why people still have them.

[wazzickle]

Doesn't everyone? The last time I spent good money on a mouse, maybe 5 years ago and ~ £50, it still worked better on a mouse mat than regular surfaces. For the last 3 years I've had a glass desk; I have a covering over it now but my tecknet Z4 still prefers a cheap raggedy old mousemat (soooooo many coffee spills) to the textured sort of mat I've got on top of the desk.

[cptwhite_uk]

I use one of these:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01FDOTU...739481_TE_item

Honestly, along with my 27" 1440p Dell monitor, I think it's probably one of the best purchases in terms of comfort and enjoyment that I have made for the PC.

[Ttaskmaster]

my hands are too big for a mouse

Just how big are your hands, anyway?
I'm XXXL, but still find mice that fit...

I'm using an OCUK Mega Mat - The surface is more about general usage, but my mice do track far better on it and pick up a lot less dust than bare table tops, even the smooth veneer.

[Boon72]

i bought a Perixx DX-1000L Gaming Mouse Pad after i noticed marks on my table :-)

[ik9000]

have one at work for the ergonomic wrist support thing.

[Corky34]

Much prefer using a mouse mat with a preference towards large (90x40cm plus) cloth ones, being a delicate little flower i don't like the feel of hard surfaces and find they wear out mouse feet quicker.

[Millennium]

I have and use a Razor Mantis Speed mouse mat with a Logitech G400s. Nice feeling.

[Taz]

My desk at home is an old one I bought from Argos around 16 years ago. It's a simple rectangle of cheap plywood covered in a fake wood material. The surface is worn where I've been using my mouse but the desk is large and sturdy.

When I get the mouse mat that I've ordered I'll see whether it works better, although I don't really have any issues with it presently.

Going off on a bit of a tangent, I travel a lot and sometimes the desk in hotels has a glass top and I find that optical mice simply won't work on such desks.

[shaithis]

For gaming, I find a mouse mat is still required for total precision. Maybe it's my desk surfaces being wood effect but the difference between mat and no mat is quite large for me.

You can immediately see it by placing the mouse cursor on the left edge of the screen and seeing how far you have to move the mouse to reach the right edge...do this with and without a mat and the difference will dictate how much benefit you get from the mat.

[Dashers]

I think I got mine from PCWorld. I had a fancy one for my IntelliMouse Explorer, but more modern mice didn't play so well with it.

Mines metal framed and solid black plastic, seems to work reasonably well. I keep think I should change it, but it just seems to work.

That said, I don't use a mouse mat at work, the desk and mouse seem to work well together, so I just leave it as that.

[Taz]

Just received my mouse mat in the post. It was rolled up in a long box so it'll take a few days to lie completely flat. I ordered two at £6.71 each. It's quite thin at around 2-3mm in depth. It does the job well and doesn't move on the desk. It does seem strange to be using a mouse mat again! There's definitely a bit more drag when moving the mouse, but the smoothness and precision is better.

A bit overpriced for a thin rectangle of rubbery foam but it does the job.



I'm left-handed and the mouse is covering the 'bald patch' on my desk caused by years of not using a mouse mat.