Frederik S
01-13-2007, 04:24 PM
[page=Introduction & Packaging]
Introduction
I would like to thank IndiWEB (http://www.indiweb.de/) for supplying the Func mouse pads. IndiWEB is the official european distributor for the entire func lineup among other things. The company about page reads as follows:
"WE SUPPORT YOUR SKILL" - this slogan describes our goal. We offer specialized equipment for gamers and professional users to support their PC-skills at best. Many years of experience in this area enable us to focus on the high individual requirements of users. We have a wide range of specialized products in stock in order to fulfill these demands.
Func was founded back in 1999 by a group of dedicated gamers. Ever since their first mat they have continued to push the envelope in terms of glide and precision that you can get from a mouse mat. What sets Func industries apart from many other pad makers is their scientific approach on how to make a mat. This shows in all of their product-lines, i.e. they actually list the roughness scale of the mat (R value). The R value is calculated through an algorithm that incorporates both the distance between peaks and the height of them. This is quite useful in the sense that you can always objectively compare roughness and glide between all of the Func mats.
Func is known to produce some of the best mats for medium to high sensitivity gamers due to the integrity of their surfaces. I will be taking a look at both high sensitivity performance and low sensitivity performance on all of the surfaces.
Today I will be testing the F.10S Large, which is the biggest version of the F.10S line of products from Func.
Package & Closer Examination
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Func/F10S/images/package1small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Func/F10S/images/package1big.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Func/F10S/images/package2small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Func/F10S/images/package2big.jpg)
As you can see from the images above the mat comes in a plastic box. One of the things that I like about the Func pads in general is that they always come bundled with a nice cord-clip.
When you take the mat out of the box the first time, you will notice is just how big it is. Compared to most hard mouse mats this one is huge.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Func/F10S/images/frontsidesmall.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Func/F10S/images/frontsidebig.jpg)
The pad's design is quite nice, it's slightly arched so that it is comfortable to use. One of the things that identifies it as a Func is the logo on the bottom right corner of the mat, which gives the mat a nice look because of its color and design. Making an otherwise boring mat stand out.
The backside of the Func pad is just like any other from the F-series. It's made of semi-soft rubber which makes it stick to almost every type of desk surface.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Func/F10S/images/backsidesmall.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Func/F10S/images/backsidebig.jpg)
Due to the way the rubber is manufactured it performs really well, it has a fine texture and makes the mat stay in place even while playing FPS-games and such where violent and fast moves are required.
[page=Performance]
Performance
I have tested this mat with my Microsoft IntelliMouse Explorer 3.0 (IME 3.0) and a Microsoft Habu mouse which uses the same laser sensor as the Razer Copperhead. The mat performed really good with both mice, and I must say it works extremely well with the IME 3.0, so Func are absolutely spot on when they state on the back of their package, that their pads are "optimized for optical mice".
The glide was good enough so that you don't have to use excessive force to move the mouse. I think the mat has a really nice balance between glide and control, it's comfortable to use and feels precise at all times. The mat has a bit more friction than the F.30R and that makes it a nice compromise for most low sensitivity gamers who need speed and control to make reflex shots.
I tried the mat at high sensitivity with my Microsoft Habu and it performed really good, so I can definitely recommend the F10-series from Func to any high sensitivity gamer.
Size
This pad is huge compared to most plastic pads, it is even lager than some of the hybrid mats that I have had for review.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Func/F10S/images/comparisionsmall.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Func/F10S/images/comparisonbig.jpg)
As you can see from the picture above, the Func F10.S Large is even bigger than the NOIDpad, which is a hybrid mat.
It is really nice to see a big hard mat being produced, this is really nice because it enables low sensitivity gamers like myself to get the performance of a hard mat without changing our style of play.
Surface
Func has always listed the roughness of their mats via a R number, which is generated from an algorithm which incorporates both the height of the peaks and the distance between them. The Func F10.S has a smooth 10 grain surface which is one of the finest grained surfaces on the market today. As you can see from the images below the surfaces grain is almost unnoticeable.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Func/F10S/images/surface1small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Func/F10S/images/surface1big.jpg)
The surface is optimized for optical mice because of the color and the texture, the performance of the mat combined with my IME 3.0 was incredible, it's a great compromise between glide and control plus you get the precision of a hard mat.
Durability
As with any of Func F-series mouse mat it is quite durable, the surface is made of plastic and the bottom of solid rubber. The construction can cope with almost any kind of abuse and can be cleaned with alcohol cleansers and be washed in a sink without being damaged. The only way to ruin the mat is by bending it a lot so that the surface cracks.
[page=Value & Conclusion]
Value and Conclusion
<table width="100%" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" id="result">
<tr><th>http://www.techpowerup.com/images/dollar.gif</th>
<td>
The F10.S costs € 27.95, the mouse mat is available at IndiWeb (http://www.indiweb.de).
</td>
</tr><tr>
<th>http://www.techpowerup.com/images/thumbup.gif</th>
<td>
Comfort
Smooth surface
Control
Durability
Stays in place while gaming
Design
Low friction
Size
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>http://www.techpowerup.com/images/thumbdown.gif</th>
<td>
Glide could be a bit better compared to mats such as the QPAD EC-R, but since there is so little difference it isn't a major flaw.
</td></tr>
<tr><th>9.5</th>
<td>The F10.S Large is a really nice mouse mat. It has the smooth Func surface which is one of the best surfaces on the market. The fact that it's so large makes it usable for even low sensitivity gamers like myself. This is nice because it opens up the world of hard mats to low sensitivity gamers which before was only for medium sensitivity gamers and higher. The price performance ratio of the Func F10.S is right at the top, the surface both performs well and is also very durable.<br />
Overall I really liked playing with the Func F10.S. Making the switch from a cloth based hybrid mat to this mat was fast because of the size and feel of the mat.</td></tr><tr><th></th><td>http://www.techpowerup.com/images/recommended.gif</td></tr>
</table>
Introduction
I would like to thank IndiWEB (http://www.indiweb.de/) for supplying the Func mouse pads. IndiWEB is the official european distributor for the entire func lineup among other things. The company about page reads as follows:
"WE SUPPORT YOUR SKILL" - this slogan describes our goal. We offer specialized equipment for gamers and professional users to support their PC-skills at best. Many years of experience in this area enable us to focus on the high individual requirements of users. We have a wide range of specialized products in stock in order to fulfill these demands.
Func was founded back in 1999 by a group of dedicated gamers. Ever since their first mat they have continued to push the envelope in terms of glide and precision that you can get from a mouse mat. What sets Func industries apart from many other pad makers is their scientific approach on how to make a mat. This shows in all of their product-lines, i.e. they actually list the roughness scale of the mat (R value). The R value is calculated through an algorithm that incorporates both the distance between peaks and the height of them. This is quite useful in the sense that you can always objectively compare roughness and glide between all of the Func mats.
Func is known to produce some of the best mats for medium to high sensitivity gamers due to the integrity of their surfaces. I will be taking a look at both high sensitivity performance and low sensitivity performance on all of the surfaces.
Today I will be testing the F.10S Large, which is the biggest version of the F.10S line of products from Func.
Package & Closer Examination
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Func/F10S/images/package1small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Func/F10S/images/package1big.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Func/F10S/images/package2small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Func/F10S/images/package2big.jpg)
As you can see from the images above the mat comes in a plastic box. One of the things that I like about the Func pads in general is that they always come bundled with a nice cord-clip.
When you take the mat out of the box the first time, you will notice is just how big it is. Compared to most hard mouse mats this one is huge.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Func/F10S/images/frontsidesmall.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Func/F10S/images/frontsidebig.jpg)
The pad's design is quite nice, it's slightly arched so that it is comfortable to use. One of the things that identifies it as a Func is the logo on the bottom right corner of the mat, which gives the mat a nice look because of its color and design. Making an otherwise boring mat stand out.
The backside of the Func pad is just like any other from the F-series. It's made of semi-soft rubber which makes it stick to almost every type of desk surface.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Func/F10S/images/backsidesmall.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Func/F10S/images/backsidebig.jpg)
Due to the way the rubber is manufactured it performs really well, it has a fine texture and makes the mat stay in place even while playing FPS-games and such where violent and fast moves are required.
[page=Performance]
Performance
I have tested this mat with my Microsoft IntelliMouse Explorer 3.0 (IME 3.0) and a Microsoft Habu mouse which uses the same laser sensor as the Razer Copperhead. The mat performed really good with both mice, and I must say it works extremely well with the IME 3.0, so Func are absolutely spot on when they state on the back of their package, that their pads are "optimized for optical mice".
The glide was good enough so that you don't have to use excessive force to move the mouse. I think the mat has a really nice balance between glide and control, it's comfortable to use and feels precise at all times. The mat has a bit more friction than the F.30R and that makes it a nice compromise for most low sensitivity gamers who need speed and control to make reflex shots.
I tried the mat at high sensitivity with my Microsoft Habu and it performed really good, so I can definitely recommend the F10-series from Func to any high sensitivity gamer.
Size
This pad is huge compared to most plastic pads, it is even lager than some of the hybrid mats that I have had for review.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Func/F10S/images/comparisionsmall.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Func/F10S/images/comparisonbig.jpg)
As you can see from the picture above, the Func F10.S Large is even bigger than the NOIDpad, which is a hybrid mat.
It is really nice to see a big hard mat being produced, this is really nice because it enables low sensitivity gamers like myself to get the performance of a hard mat without changing our style of play.
Surface
Func has always listed the roughness of their mats via a R number, which is generated from an algorithm which incorporates both the height of the peaks and the distance between them. The Func F10.S has a smooth 10 grain surface which is one of the finest grained surfaces on the market today. As you can see from the images below the surfaces grain is almost unnoticeable.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Func/F10S/images/surface1small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Func/F10S/images/surface1big.jpg)
The surface is optimized for optical mice because of the color and the texture, the performance of the mat combined with my IME 3.0 was incredible, it's a great compromise between glide and control plus you get the precision of a hard mat.
Durability
As with any of Func F-series mouse mat it is quite durable, the surface is made of plastic and the bottom of solid rubber. The construction can cope with almost any kind of abuse and can be cleaned with alcohol cleansers and be washed in a sink without being damaged. The only way to ruin the mat is by bending it a lot so that the surface cracks.
[page=Value & Conclusion]
Value and Conclusion
<table width="100%" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" id="result">
<tr><th>http://www.techpowerup.com/images/dollar.gif</th>
<td>
The F10.S costs € 27.95, the mouse mat is available at IndiWeb (http://www.indiweb.de).
</td>
</tr><tr>
<th>http://www.techpowerup.com/images/thumbup.gif</th>
<td>
Comfort
Smooth surface
Control
Durability
Stays in place while gaming
Design
Low friction
Size
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>http://www.techpowerup.com/images/thumbdown.gif</th>
<td>
Glide could be a bit better compared to mats such as the QPAD EC-R, but since there is so little difference it isn't a major flaw.
</td></tr>
<tr><th>9.5</th>
<td>The F10.S Large is a really nice mouse mat. It has the smooth Func surface which is one of the best surfaces on the market. The fact that it's so large makes it usable for even low sensitivity gamers like myself. This is nice because it opens up the world of hard mats to low sensitivity gamers which before was only for medium sensitivity gamers and higher. The price performance ratio of the Func F10.S is right at the top, the surface both performs well and is also very durable.<br />
Overall I really liked playing with the Func F10.S. Making the switch from a cloth based hybrid mat to this mat was fast because of the size and feel of the mat.</td></tr><tr><th></th><td>http://www.techpowerup.com/images/recommended.gif</td></tr>
</table>