Intro:

    I got my first plastic hard surface mouse pad nearly 6 years ago, which was an Everglide. Now, being a review site, I've had the opportunity to review, and use, quite a few mouse pads. Over all of them, I still prefer hard surface pads, but one thing was missing for a long time, smooth gliding. Smooth was what I fell in love with, with XTrac Pads. Over the last couple weeks of using the "Thunder 8" dual surface mouse pad, I realized I may have just found a new favorite. C'mon over for a closer look...

Features and all that jazz:

 ABS Base
 - Super Slim, Durable, Washable, Excellent Chemical Resistance

 X-Ray Thunder 8 ABS Base

The ABS Base is a very rigid very thin base, it's very durable and easy to clean up. There are four grooves around the base to allow you to select the placement of the mouse cord clip, allowing you to orient the pad in any direction on your desktop and yet still be able to use it as right-handed or left-handed and keep the mouse cord out of your way. Despite it's rigidity, the base has been formed so that it will not hurt your wrist as you rest your hand on the pad, there are no sharp edges as many metal and glass pads have. Thanks to it's ABS composition, the base of the Thunder 8 is chemical resistant, fade proof, and will retain it's size and shape even in the hottest temperatures. The quality evident in our ABS Base is just the beginning, but makes for a very solid foundation from which to construct the best hard pad ever made.

 Surface
 - Double-sided Surface made of special Hi-Tech material

 Easy Lift Corner
 - Change easily between the two sides

 Enhanced cord clip
 - Easy-in and Easy-out design

 Rubber feet
 - High quality silicone rubber feet will not slide

 Tin Package
 - Deluxe Tin packaging to protect your pad

 Dimension
 - 11.44" x 9.3" x 1/6" (290.6mm x 236.2mm x 4.2mm)

 5 Colors
 - T8 BK/Black
 - T8 BK/Emerald (Green)
 - T8 BK/Orange
 - T8 BK/Yellow
 - T8 BK/Blue
 - Custom designs available


The Packaging:

    Packaged in a keepsake tin case, is just part of the Thunder 8's hint of greatness. The tin case also makes a great transport for your pad. We'll see a bit of that below though. Lastly, the back has the product color info. As you can see, both the base and surface colors are black. Other color options are available, but we'll explore that a bit later as well.

(1) Hello there Tin man	(2) Sticker on bottom of the container

Inside:

    Well packed with cushioning, is the Thunder 8. A user's reference paper is included, which has the package contents listed, specs, installation guide for the included cord clip, and placement surface instructions. You'll notice below, the mouse cord clip, the one that came from early batch of pads, (my review sample as well) is black. It does fit the color scheme of the pad quite nicely, but, I'm not sure if it's really needed though. This is the time of wireless optical mice that actually work with no lag. Oh, and you'll see another one below. A mouse cord clip that is.   

(3) A peek inside	(4) In the bottom, a mouse cord clip

The pad:

    Taking the pad out of the packaging, we can now see the dual surface pad in all its glory. Once again, it is 11.5" x 9.3" more or less, and most should be more than happy with the size. I know I am. I usually use only a few inches both vertically, and horizontally myself. Gamers might want more, but I think it's very good as is.

(5) The pad...

Other colors of the pad:

    Once again, other color schemes are available. Pretty slick huh? I'd personally prefer an outer color to just all black myself. I grabbed the images from the X-Ray website, because I thought it's be convenient for all our readers. They of course, are thumbnails, so click away if you think it'd give you a better idea, other than the 185x146 thumbnails...And custom pads are available. Imagine your website, or company, branded with one of these pads, which is what was meant by "custom designs available" in the Features section...

(Blue) Picture courtesy of X-Ray	(Green) Emerald - Picture courtesy of X-Ray
(Yellow) Picture courtesy of X-Ray	(Orange) Picture courtesy of X-Ray

The easy lift corner:

    If you want to change the rough to smooth side, or vice versa, is pretty easy. Just pull up with a fingernail, and swap sides. Easy as that. Even though this pad is flexible, as in sides of the pad, I'm sure you'll pick your favorite and not really be switching it around... Welcoming is the fact that you can easily switch it. The quality shows here. The insert, (the pad space) fits very snuggly once depressed into the pad holder. So I'd have to compliment manufacturing for precision engineering.

(6) Easy lift is me!

Rubber feet:

    One of the better gripping pads I have seen to date IS the Thunder 8. Ten pads, as you can see in picture 7, holds the pad well, with or without any pressure, pretty firmly on my desktop. I'm sure just about any desk would work too. The good thing for those who don't like high mouse pads, this one is pretty darn flat. It's really about the same height as an old cloth mouse pad. 4.2mm to be exact as stated above.

(7) The back and 10 rubber pads	(8) Close up of a rubber pad

Look! The pad with a mouse:

    I primarily used my Razer Viper mouse for testing. I did however use two other optical and one ball mouse as well. Movement was smooth on both sides, yet smoother on the smooth side of the Thunder 8 obviously. In optical mice that is. Of course the rough surface side gave the mouse ball a bit more to grab on. Obvious as well huh?

(9) Shot of mouse on pad

Mouse skates and clip that cord:

    Below is the sample of the ZeroFriction mouse skates that were included with the Thunder8. I'm not sure of the life of them, but a retail pack is pretty cheap. Depending on the "shipping" aspect, just about anyone could really use these. Especially with a hard surface mouse pad. The mouse cord clip below, clips into the bottom of the pad into either of the 4 slots in the Thunder 8 perfectly. I put mine on the side, because of the long mouse cord on the Razer Viper. I can reroute it near my keyboard in a fashion that I like. Yes, this clip is Silver, unlike the black one that was initially included with the Thunder 8. (My review sample.) This one fits, the other doesn't. Now I know what you maybe thinking, but you, as a retail buyer, this doesn't effect you. There is no answer on the final color, be it black, or silver, but ah, who cares. Your mouse cord clip will work, if you want to use it, so just forget that I mentioned it. The pad is really what matters, because I've always considered a mouse cord clip pretty gimmicky anyway.

(10) Sample of ZeroFriction Mouse skates & Mouse cord clip	(11) The clip installed

ZeroFriction you say?:

    As you can see above in picture 10, a sample of the ZeroFriction Mouse skates were supplied for review. When I say sample, I mean half of what a retail package is. These particular ones are product# TP5A, if you didn't catch that at the very top of this page. So, I got 15, instead of a 30 pack. Find out more here. Anyway, my current mouse once again, the Razer Viper, has round Teflon pads, instead of oval like most M$ and Logitech mice. Regardless, they fit fine. X-Ray also as a new set of Teflon pads, ZeroFriction Infinity, that would fit a mouse such as this, and are aimed at certain other mice.

    I installed the Mouse skates, and as usual, of any product of this nature, instant smoothness. It most definitely makes a difference on the smoothness of glide of your mouse on the pad. It does work much better on the surfaces of the Thunder 8 than on my laminated desk. Night and day wouldn't describe it well, but 50-70% improvement in smoothness of gliding the mouse around would. It's like getting a new mouse. :) On a very good note, one thing I should mention is the clear backing that holds the pads on, is easily bendable. And with that, it becomes very easy to remove the mouse skates. In the past, prying some skates from some other types of backing is quite a nightmare. Not here...

(12) Peeled and stuck

Summary:

    Old school ball mice people will like the rougher surface, or optical people who like some feedback. The smooth side is a pleasure to work on, and that is by far my favorite. Slip on some ZeroFriction Mouse skates, and regardless of side, be ready for some hot knife though butter mouse action!

    To try and sum it up, like a summary does, this is one pad that should be seriously considered. If you like it smooth like butter, or you like it err, rougher, this pad should please just about everyone. Except for the "I need a huge pad" people. That my friend, could be the "Thunder 9," which will be on the review block soon, and is priced way under "competitions similar product." I can't think of anyone who couldn't use a nice pad like this. Gamers, graphic artists, even just plain old home users would appreciate the upgrade from using their desk, or heaven forbid, a cheapola cloth pad that came with the mega powerful eMachine 5 years ago. Hmm, never mind about the last one, there is no hope for that.


Pros:

  • Dual surface pad.
  • Inexpensive really, for years of use.
  • One of the best mouse pads I have tested ever!
  • Good grip on a desk surface.
  • ZeroFriction Mouse skates work well.
  • Well packed with Collector/Transport Tin.
  • Suited for ball mice as well, (Rough side) but works great with optical mice too.
  • Decent size for most.



Cons:

  • Nothing comes to mind...
 

"Please bury me with my Thunder 8...Seriously!"

Closing:

    I'd like to thank X-ray Technology LTD for sending over nearly their full line of products for review. Consider this part 1 of 3. Look for the others in the coming weeks. So you want to buy some X-ray products? A simple search will reveal all you want to know, and where. I hope you enjoyed this write up! Thanks for coming by! Until next time...


 

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