fUnc Surface 1030 Mouse Pad

Surface 1030

Manufacturer: fUnc Industries

Price: $19.99 (US)

Review Date: 12-9-00

$20 for a mouse pad?!? The fUnc sUrface1030 (yep, that's how its written) is probably the most you will ever spend on a mouse pad. Then again its not a typical pad you simply drop on your desk and drag your mouse over. You know you are not dealing with a typical pad when you see the lavish package it ships in. The pad comes in a stylish tin which is padded on the inside and the lid is embossed with the logo. Upon opening it you will find all of the necessary hardware and even instructions!

The sUrface has a full 10 inch by 8 1/2 inch pad (slightly larger than most). The pad is reversible; offering both a coarse and smooth surface. It then sets inside a rubber base that grips your desk top. A cord clip offers just the right amount of slack in the line so you don't get hung up on anything. If you follow the instructions for setting up and using the clip you end up with a loop in the mouse cord that allows free movement of the mouse without cable interference. The clip affixes to either the upper left or right hand side of the pad base.

I mentioned the pad having a manual. This is in fact the first mouse pad I know of having a manual but it is necessary to describe how to properly setup the cord clip. The manual also describes the best way to keep the pad and your mouse clean for optimal performance. The famous "Clean your mouse balls" memo comes to mind. The surface of the pad is cleanable too.

Performance wise the pad is great. I used the sUrface with a few different types of mice including traditional ball control and optical mice. Since the optical mice do not use the ball mechanism to travel around (and read the movement) the pad, either surface is sufficient. It simply comes down to user preference. My Logitech Optical Mouse has very efficient slide feet and glides across either surface quite well. I actually slowed down the tracking on the mouse once I used it with the sUrface. The pad offers a good tracking pattern for the optical eye and all movements were read well. The pad served as a great surface for optical mice.

With traditional ball mice the pad also proved to be a great surface. For a quick comparison I went back to my Logitech Wheel Mouse and compared its feel to the optical version. Here again, both surfaces provided good tracking and allowed smooth, even movement; which side of the pad used is determined by personal preference. I also put the sUrface under the AVB VMouse. This mouse is heavier than most due to its rumble effect motor and electronics house in the mouse case. AVB suggest using this mouse on a softer pad to absorb some of the vibration and keep the mouse more secure in your hand. Although the inner surface of the pad cannot be described as absorbent the rubber base serves this purpose.

In contrast I used a cheap generic mouse that is very light in construction. The mouse tracked better on the rough side of the sUrface pad. I also used a Belkin Mini-mouse (made for laptop use) because it is very light and small. Again, it performed great on the rough side of the pad. I also used the Saitek GM2 atop the pad. Its ball tracked well on the rough surface and a beat was never missed. The sUrface is definitely versatile enough to use with any type of mouse.

The only criticism I could muster on the pad is the multiple piece design is not well adapted for being moved around. When you drop the pad into the rubber base it sets down inside the frame well. The rubber frame hold the desk position without compromise. Still, if you need to move the pad for some reason the whole thing comes apart. There should be few reasons to move the pad once it is setup so this is a minor annoyance at best.

So is $20 for a mouse pad too much? Not in this case. The fUnc sUurface1030 should be the last mouse pad you buy. It offers durability, a cleanable surface, great tracking for both optical and ball mice and looks nice.

The cord clip in use- showing the proper cord loop.

A close-up of the pads rough surface side.

A close-up of the pads smooth surface side.

Overall-

The fUnc sUurface1030 is a great mouse surface. Much attention went into its development and the end result is the best mouse pad available. The $20 price tag may seem excessive, but is fully justified once you see and feel what its all about.

The Control Center recommends the fUnc sUurface1030 for gaming, web browsing and general computing.

Buy the sUrface 1030