KitGuru KitGuru.net – Tech News | Hardware News | Hardware Reviews | IOS | Mobile | Gaming | Graphics Cards
As the results of KitGuru's recent online poll has shown, a whopping 93% of you are PC gaming aficionados – masters of the keyboard and mouse on a decent PC. Our latest KitGuru Labs test focuses on the connection between mouse and desk. The all important mousepad. Sticky fingers need not apply.
If you prefer a mousepad with integrated wrist support, then this product is not for you. Likewise, if you want a rock solid surface, then Roccat is not aiming the Siru at you. This mousepad has ‘give'.
The result is a mousepad that offers a decent amount of deskspace over which to manoeuvre, with the tiniest amount of additional comfort. Upshot? The Roccat Siru is not aiming to be a ‘drag' on your motion.
According to Roccat's own web site, the Siru is ‘knife-edge thin. Given that it is less than 0.5mm deep, that must make it one of the thinnest mousepads ever created. We've all seen mousepads that fray and fall apart – something which Roccat is trying to counter with a ‘single layer' manufacturing approach.
Available in Cryptic Blue or Pitch Black, Roccat claims that this product is perfect for all laser and optical mice.
Roccat scientists have tried 80 so far without a fail.
Size-wise, it measures 340mm x 250mm x 0.45mm and, according to Roccat, the superior glide surface gives ultra-precise control – eliminating over/under-aim.
It's no fun lunging for a shot, only to have your mousepad follow you along the table. The underside of this mousepad has a patterned non-slip material to try and eliminate that issue.
Lastly, in case you find gaming too exciting, the surface is ‘easy clean'. Nice.
In KitGuru's experience, there's no denying the quality of Roccat's design and manufacturing. We have been following the company's progress since we met with the founders in a small room at CeBIT in 2007.
When it comes to products for the technology sector, there seems to be a strong argument for getting them designed in North/West Europe and then manufactured in the Far East. All nations are capable of greatness, but there's a simplicity of design that us cold-climate dwellers seem to be better at delivering.
Heads-up, here come the shots that matter.
Packaging is suitable for a premium product, with strong graphics that are instantly recognisable as Roccat in origin.
Most of the key features have been highlighted, to make it easier for you to run through an check.
The front and back of the mat are simple and functional. Roccat has gone to the effort of styling the whole mousepad, without really losing any gaming surface area.
Branding is simple and stylish. Having seen the Cryptic Blue shots on Roccat's web site, we'd be tempted to go for that, but it's a taste thing.
To give you a better idea of the anti-slip surface at the read, we took our 24-70mm lens down to a tight angle and altered the studio lighting for effect.
Having taken a detailed look at the product and packaging, there's something that you should bear in mind. While a world class player can probably kick-butt with a Microsoft ball-bearing mouse on a rough slab of wood, most of us need to be as comfortable as possible. You need every advantage you can get.
But mice, mats, keyboards etc are all a very personal choice. If you get the chance, try to get to a major event like Multiplay's Insomnia series – you will be able to try out loads of options and pick the one that's best for you.
We ran the Roccat Siru through a Sunday afternoon's worth of gaming, using a combination of mice – optical and laser. Also, we got two of our guys to have a go – personal preferences being what they are – to even up the conclusion.
One of our chaps is a hardcore Warcraft fanatic, while the other loves nothing better than dealing death at close quarters in the latest first person shooters. The general consensus was that the Siru is ideally suited to shoot-em-ups.
One thing that's definitely worth commenting on is the anti-slip reverse material.
It grips to most surfaces limpet-like. Think ‘trying to prize snails off a rock at the seaside' and you get the picture. One of our testers had cut his nails earlier in the day and it was quite amusing to watch him attempt to pick the Siru off a smooth table. He eventually used a thin metal nail file to lift an edge.
if you're buying it in a retail store, then you'll be glad to know that there's a glory hole on the front of the packaging, so you can get a proper feel of the surface before you buy.
Price-wise, at the time of writing, the Roccat Siru Mousepad is just under £14 on Overclockers.
Discuss on our Facebook page, over HERE.
Pros
- Price.
- Build quality.
- Smoothness.
- Grip.
Cons
- Not the best choice for time consuming role-playing games if you like your wrist bones.
KitGuru says: For the assassins among you, who want lightning fast tracking on a smooth surface for less than £14, this is a must have.
Bought it and regretted it after about a month. The stickiness of it wears out quickly and the plastic will began to bend during use (probably due to friction of the mouse and hand) and you will eventually end up with a useless piece of bent plastic.