Product Requirements:
Device:
A computer with a mouse

Can a mouse pad seriously improve your computing experience? Before I started this review, I had never really thought about it. Sure, I considered things like comfort and safety, and so I had a preference for mouse pads with a built in gel wrist rest. I also like pads that have a bit of substance to them, and I tend to shy away from the perfectly flat ones that you get either as SWAG at conventions or in the box when you buy certain computers.

I can't say exactly what I was expecting when Julie said she was sending me some Everglide pads to try, but since I am always open to new things I was happy to check them out.

From perusing the Everglide site, it appears that a good optical mouse pad can make a big difference in a couple of areas: gaming speed and battery life if you have a cordless mouse. Well, I don't have a cordless mouse, and I don't play a lot of games, but I do have an optical mouse and I am all for anything that will speed me up, be more responsive, and feel good under my hand. Did the Everglide mouse pads do it for me? Well, since I had three different models to try, I had better talk about each one individually...

Attack Optical Smoke

This mouse pad was the coolest looking of the three, in my opinion. Comprised of a smoky plastic with a interior of frozen silver glitter, I liked its size and looks. Measuring 11" wide x 7.25" tall (measured from top to the middle of the elliptical center) x 0.25" thick, this pad has a nice platform look to it, with smooth beveled edges all around.

The surface of the pad is a rougher area, and I found that my mouse did glide quite easily over the pad. It is like there is no resistance whatever when you run your mouse over it, unlike the mouse pad I am used to. I can definitely see where less resistance would lead to greater speed and battery life.

The only thing missing was a wrist rest...while this may not bother some, I really miss it.

Price: $9.95

Pros:
Good overall size
Good looks
Surface that an optical mouse glides easily over
Should lead to faster response in gaming and perhaps better battery life for cordless mice

Cons:
No built in wrist rest

GIGANTA Optical Smoke
 

The Giganta is just as the name implies: Gigantic. This monster measures 11.5" wide x 8.75" tall (measured from top to the middle of the elliptical center) x 0.25" thick. It is essentially the same material and composition as the previously mentioned Attack model, it's just much bigger. Gamers should love the wide open expanse available on its slightly textured top.

Once again, the only thing that keeps me from loving this pad is the absence of a wrist rest.

Price: $11.95

Pros:
Huge overall size
Good looks
Surface that an optical mouse glides easily over
Should lead to faster response in gaming and perhaps better battery life for cordless mice

Cons:
No built in wrist rest

Optica

Oh wow...I have to admit that when I pulled this pad out of the box, I thought it was a freebie! I was slightly chagrined to learn that it was an actual sale model. In any case, it is billed as being "paper thin and lightning fast," which is a pretty apt description. I suppose that compared to the other two models, you could also consider it quite portable. It looks like a generously sized typical mouse pad, measuring in at 10.5" wide x 8" tall. It seemed like of the three pads, this one was a little less slick on top, although my mouse still slid easily across it.

Unless you just prefer a flat as a pancake mouse pad, or if you need something that you can roll up and stow in your gearbag, I would say that this one was the least value for the money.

Price: $9.95

Pros:
Portable

Cons:
Seems overpriced compared to other two pads