SteelSeries S&S FAQ:
Q: You have so many different mousepads, what's so special about this one?
A: SteelSeries S&S was developed in cooperation with the legendary SK.swe Counter-Strike team back in 2003 and 2004. This is a team that won six major international grand-slam titles in the same period, who will forever be remembered as one of the most succesfull Counter-Strike teams in the history of gaming. Together we created a product that met their high demands for performance. The surface of this pad has been updated and improved as of January 2007.
Q: Who helped you test this mousepad?
A: Professionals from SK Gaming helped us with development of this surface.
Q: So what's the big deal with a "professional gaming mousepad"?
A: Communication with a computer through a mouse is essential for most professional gamers, as precision, accuracy, control and reaction time are keywords. To achieve optimal communication and performance with their expensive computer equipment gamers use a fairly low tech piece of gaming equipment: a mousepad.
Q: I think it is insane to spend that much money on something as simple as a mousepad?
A: All mousepads from SteelSeries are thoroughly researched, tested and optimized for gaming. See a "true" gaming product is by definition superior to any other piece of computer hardware and accessory. Gamers constantly make split-second decisions, razor-sharp movements and use their equipment much more extensively than practically any other consumer group in the world. That's why we spend so much time testing materials, durability, glide, precision and compatibility. And why we don't comprise on any of the above - which unfortunately makes our product somewhat more expensive that the off-the-shelf mousepad you might find from a no-name manufacturer. In short: it's much easier to aim with one of our surfaces.
Q: So, how much better will I become with SteelSeries S&S?
A: We don't know. Really. It all depends on what level you're already playing at. What we can promise you is that the glide of the pad is spectacular, that your mouse will pick up even the slightest and most minimal of movements, and that these are cornerstones in succesfull gaming. You might improve your game with 0.001% and you might improve your game with 10%. A better question would be: do you ever feel you could have communicated better and faster with your computer through your mouse?
Q: You have so many different mousepads, which one should I choose?
A: All our surfaces offer something unique. The glide, feel and comfort differs based on the material used to manufacture the product, but they all offer "gaming grade" precision and accuracy. Our surfaces perform roughly the same. How you personally feel about touching the material used to create the product, what mouse technology you use and your playing style is what makes either one of them “better" or more suitable for you. So, sorry, can't really answer that question.