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ZOWIE G-SR
http://imgur.com/zt2Xk25
So I now had the chance to use the Zowie G-SR for 1-2 months now and feel it's time to give it a proper review. Proper in the sense that I try to give my impression of glide and feeling and also provide pictures of the little details as well as comparisons to other pads.
The G-SR comes in a blue checkered pattern with the new Zowie logo both in a 3D imprint in the pattern as well as in the middle in plain white.
Size
The dimensions of the G-SR are 480 x 400 x 3.5 mm. For comparison a Qck Heavy is 450 x 400 x 6 mm, so the G-SR is a bit wider.
With the ZA11 to compare
http://imgur.com/hbNdl4f
Here is the G-SR on top of a QPAD UC 50, which is both a bit wider and taller at 500 x 420 x 4 mm
http://imgur.com/29w8aON
Material
Smooth cloth fibre on the top, new rubber base on the bottom
Close up of the top fabric
http://imgur.com/YNXTjJO
http://imgur.com/iUa5mj7
The best thing about the pad (for me) is the rubber base.
http://imgur.com/lgJg7pC
The base is much more consistent than on any other pad I ever tried. Here's a comparison with other large pads I have
http://imgur.com/029831Y
The difference is really easy to see and even easier to feel. There are no spots where you might sink in because there are bubbles in the base, on the Talent I can easily find said spots if I look for them. This makes the experience very consistent. It also feels like the pad is harder than the other pads while being equally smooth and soft, so it has the consistency of a hard pad with the glide of a soft pad.
Build quality
Well, it doesn't have stiched edges which in my eyes is both a plus and a minus. A plus because stiched edges always felt uncomfortable to me and a minus because of this:
http://imgur.com/KeWCRvj
So yes, it does fray around the edges. The spot in the picture is the worst of all though and after the picture I cut off the fibre and it doesn't look as bad anymore. The rest of both the surface and the base are completely fine though.
The glide has not deteriorated for me in the last 2 months, the pad still feels the same in all spots. So the surface doesn't wear down easily which is something that I can't say for all pads.
Base and top surface together
http://imgur.com/SsIuRvV
Speed + Control
The top weave is a very smooth fibre that feels similar to but not just as smooth as the Puretrak Talent. However the glide is less directional, meaning on the Talent I can easily feel (and hear) a difference in glide from side to side and top to bottom. The glide from side to side on the Talen is notably smoother. On the G-SR the glide seems to be very even, however maybe slightly lighter from side to side.
The static friction is very low, I can make small adjustments easily and the mouse never "sticks" to the surface.
For what it's worth a paint test of the ZA11 on the surface.
http://imgur.com/bmpYK61
All of my mice tracked perfectly fine on the surface, the white logo didn't ever interfere notably with tracking. In fact in the picture above I tried to cross the white logo on every move.
Conclusion and critique
The G-SR offers a very nice consistent glide and (probably) due to the base a very awesome feel for a soft pad. My main point of criticism is that it comes only in that blue and white design. I know it doesn't interfere with tracking, still I'd love to have it in black or at least with the logo not in the middle. In my opinion it doesn't really fit with Zowies otherwise minimalistic design. I love their mice because they don't have the "in your face bling" like many other manufacturers do. The G-SR on the other hand is anything but subtle.
I'd also wish there would be more sizes available, an even bigger version would be appreciated, at least a taller version. I really liked the UC 50 in that regard as it offered more space to rest my forearm on and therefore less iritation when making large movements.
Comparisons with other pads (Pictures)
Grey Version of the G-SR
Recently a black-grey-ish version of the G-Sr has surfaced on caseking.de, I ordered that one too to try it out. It feels just the same as the blue G-SR and tracking is similarly fine. Some pictures for comparison:
Bad white balance makes it look blue here
Again bad white balance
Next to blue G-SR
http://imgur.com/zt2Xk25
So I now had the chance to use the Zowie G-SR for 1-2 months now and feel it's time to give it a proper review. Proper in the sense that I try to give my impression of glide and feeling and also provide pictures of the little details as well as comparisons to other pads.
The G-SR comes in a blue checkered pattern with the new Zowie logo both in a 3D imprint in the pattern as well as in the middle in plain white.
Size
The dimensions of the G-SR are 480 x 400 x 3.5 mm. For comparison a Qck Heavy is 450 x 400 x 6 mm, so the G-SR is a bit wider.
With the ZA11 to compare
http://imgur.com/hbNdl4f
Here is the G-SR on top of a QPAD UC 50, which is both a bit wider and taller at 500 x 420 x 4 mm
http://imgur.com/29w8aON
Material
Smooth cloth fibre on the top, new rubber base on the bottom
Close up of the top fabric
http://imgur.com/YNXTjJO
http://imgur.com/iUa5mj7
The best thing about the pad (for me) is the rubber base.
http://imgur.com/lgJg7pC
The base is much more consistent than on any other pad I ever tried. Here's a comparison with other large pads I have
http://imgur.com/029831Y
The difference is really easy to see and even easier to feel. There are no spots where you might sink in because there are bubbles in the base, on the Talent I can easily find said spots if I look for them. This makes the experience very consistent. It also feels like the pad is harder than the other pads while being equally smooth and soft, so it has the consistency of a hard pad with the glide of a soft pad.
Build quality
Well, it doesn't have stiched edges which in my eyes is both a plus and a minus. A plus because stiched edges always felt uncomfortable to me and a minus because of this:
http://imgur.com/KeWCRvj
So yes, it does fray around the edges. The spot in the picture is the worst of all though and after the picture I cut off the fibre and it doesn't look as bad anymore. The rest of both the surface and the base are completely fine though.
The glide has not deteriorated for me in the last 2 months, the pad still feels the same in all spots. So the surface doesn't wear down easily which is something that I can't say for all pads.
Base and top surface together
http://imgur.com/SsIuRvV
Speed + Control
The top weave is a very smooth fibre that feels similar to but not just as smooth as the Puretrak Talent. However the glide is less directional, meaning on the Talent I can easily feel (and hear) a difference in glide from side to side and top to bottom. The glide from side to side on the Talen is notably smoother. On the G-SR the glide seems to be very even, however maybe slightly lighter from side to side.
The static friction is very low, I can make small adjustments easily and the mouse never "sticks" to the surface.
For what it's worth a paint test of the ZA11 on the surface.
http://imgur.com/bmpYK61
All of my mice tracked perfectly fine on the surface, the white logo didn't ever interfere notably with tracking. In fact in the picture above I tried to cross the white logo on every move.
Conclusion and critique
The G-SR offers a very nice consistent glide and (probably) due to the base a very awesome feel for a soft pad. My main point of criticism is that it comes only in that blue and white design. I know it doesn't interfere with tracking, still I'd love to have it in black or at least with the logo not in the middle. In my opinion it doesn't really fit with Zowies otherwise minimalistic design. I love their mice because they don't have the "in your face bling" like many other manufacturers do. The G-SR on the other hand is anything but subtle.
I'd also wish there would be more sizes available, an even bigger version would be appreciated, at least a taller version. I really liked the UC 50 in that regard as it offered more space to rest my forearm on and therefore less iritation when making large movements.
Comparisons with other pads (Pictures)
G-SR (left) - Qck Heavy (top right) - UC 50 (lower right)
http://imgur.com/testQot
G-SR - Qck Heavy
http://imgur.com/NbktA7s
G-SR - UC 50
http://imgur.com/8hqNDW5
G-SR - G-TF Speed
http://imgur.com/wLtJVjh
http://imgur.com/testQot
G-SR - Qck Heavy
http://imgur.com/NbktA7s
G-SR - UC 50
http://imgur.com/8hqNDW5
G-SR - G-TF Speed
http://imgur.com/wLtJVjh
Grey Version of the G-SR
Recently a black-grey-ish version of the G-Sr has surfaced on caseking.de, I ordered that one too to try it out. It feels just the same as the blue G-SR and tracking is similarly fine. Some pictures for comparison:
Bad white balance makes it look blue here
Again bad white balance
Next to blue G-SR
