XTracPads Fat Mat

Gaming Phase

Published: 11th October 2007 | Source: XTracPads | Price: US$28.95 | Author: Matthew Fogg

Gaming Phase

To be honest the XTracPads Fat Mat feels exactly like the Ripper XL v2 to game on apart from the fact that the Fat Mat is a lot thicker, and subsequently, a lot more comfortable. Further, all of the quirks and performance I found with the Ripper XL v2 were played out again on the Fat Mat. I have included excerpts from the Ripper XL v2 review simply because they all apply to the XTracPads Fat Mat:

...I found myself having to turn down my Logitech G7's speed and sensitivity quite substantially to get a handle on getting my accuracy back without overshooting the mark. Once I found a setting that provided a happy medium it was a 'twitch gamers' paradise.

By comparison, my Razer Mantis mouse mat just doesn't feel as fast. Admittedly it's a mat designed for absolute control which it does very well, but pales slightly when pitted against the Ripper XL. The Ripper XL enabled my Logitech G7 to track with incredible accuracy all over the mat surface (again once speed and dpi settings were adjusted). During my World OF Warcraft testing, mouse movement from the field of play to browsing 'action bar' icons were both fluid and accurate. Attacking, interacting and adjusting the camera in play were also made a breeze by the Ripper XL.

The reduced size of the XTracPads Fat Mat didn't become an issue when gaming either. However, it did feel a little weird stepping down in mat size from the Ripper XL v2 to the Fat Mat.

Similarly to the Ripper XL v2; when using high-dpi on my Logitech G7 mouse and the XTracPads Fat Mat, if the mouse was moved too quickly it appeared to dance around. Toning down the dpi rectified the issue.

Browsing and Control Phase

Once you find the sweet spot for your chosen mouse the XTraPads Fat Mat is a joy to work with, whether you are simply browsing the net or undertaking something requiring a little more control. Working with the Fat Mat during a bout of Photoshop was extremely pleasant. Although the surface of the Fat Mat is identical to that of the Ripper XL v2, and the additional height afforded by the Fat Mat makes the experience so much sweeter. Selecting various tools from the toolbar or customising colour swatches and tool presets, which can at times be fiddly, was an absolute doddle.

Now that we've seen that the XTracPads Fat Mat is more than capable, let's head over to the conclusion page to see how it scored overall...