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Case, Power Supply, Fan Reviews
  Product:     FlexiGlow FX Game Pad  
  Price:     $28 (CDN) / $21 (U.S)
  Supplied By:     CrazyPC
  Author:     Hi-TEK
  Date:     June 11th, 2004
  Rating:     star star star star star star star star star 

FlexiGlow FX Game Pad
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FlexiGlow FX Game Pad
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Once powered, the FlexiGlow FX Game Pad will run through an animated light sequence to let you know that product is ready for use. Consumers can easily toggle the colour of their choice by pressing on the rubber control switch. The illumination from this product is great and evenly distributed via the LEDs that are installed in the center. There are a total of 12 LEDs in 4 sets that are positioned at 45 degree angles.

FlexiGlow FX Game Pad
Click image for larger view
FlexiGlow FX Game Pad
Click image for larger view
 

The FlexiGlow FX Game Pad supports 8 different color settings in total. There are seven fixed colour settings (Green, Red, Blue, Yellow, Purple, Aqua, and Mixed Blue) and one setting that cycles through all 7 colors. The red and yellow illumination really stands out when the lights are turned off.

FlexiGlow FX Game Pad
Click image for larger view
FlexiGlow FX Game Pad
Click image for larger view
 
If you are feeling green with envy, it can now be easily reflected on the FX Game Pad by the push of a switch. One of the clear benefits of this product is that it can be customized to fit any case colour theme. In order to test the gaming performance of the FX Game Pad, I will be using a wireless Logitech MX700 Cordless Optical Mouse. The Logitech MX700 Cordless Optical Mouse uses new Fast RF Cordless Technology which features increased reporting ratios, high transmissions rates and lower latency time at a resolution of 800 dpi.

FlexiGlow FX Game Pad
Click image for larger view
FlexiGlow FX Game Pad
Click image for larger view
 
There is currently no application software available for accurately testing mousing surfaces. I will be using a utility called Mouse Rate Checker v1.1b by Oliver Tscherwitschke (you can download the program from this location). This little program measures and displays the sample rate of a mouse in Hz and tells you how often (per second) the mouse sends information to your computer. The Logitech MX700 Cordless Optical Mouse was moved circular motion for a duration of 5 minutes was able to log an average score of 115 Hz or higher. For real game performance testing, I fired a copy of Painkiller from Dream Catcher Studios and played a few rounds of the cathedral level. The overall gaming experience was excellent and I was able to easily navigate around various levels with no tracking or performance loss.

Conclusion:

The FlexiGlow FX Game Pad is a very unique product that combines the use of LED based illumination technology with great gaming performance. The product is both aesthetically pleasing and does not take up a considerable amount of space on most desks. Consumers will appreciate the smooth surface, high durability and the easy maintenance involved in keeping the mousing surface clean. Game play is very good and the scores derived from the Mouse Rate Checker v1.1b prove that the product does provide a good level of mouse tracking accuracy. The biggest benefit of the FX Game Pad is the ability to easily customize the look of the product by simply pushing a button. This product has a clear advantage over rival products such as the Xide-Pad ][ and Vantec Spectrum Lighted Mouse Surface. The only negative aspect of this product is that it has a tendency to flip upward when pressure is applied towards the front edge. This can become annoying from time to time, especially in the middle of a gaming session. The FlexiGlow FX Game Pad is priced considerably higher than most conventional mouse pads on the market. One of the clear selling points of this product is the multi-color LED light system which drives up the price. Overall, I found the FlexiGlow FX Game Pad to be a great product and award MTB's Seal of Approval and a final rating of 8.5 out of 10. If you have any questions regarding this review be sure to visit the CrazyPC website for more information or discuss them in our forums.

MTB Award
 
Thumbs Up! Pros:
  • Aesthetically pleasing to the eye
  • Excellent tracking performance
  • Doesn't bend or lose shape
  • Easy maintenance
  • Long lasting
  • Multi-color LED light system
  • USB powered
Thumbs Down! Cons:
  • Price
  • FX Game Pad tends to flip upward when pressure applied to the front edge

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