Update! Available for purchase - C4 Mousing Surface Information

[Johnbear007]

Originally posted by: Maddscientist
Man Still waiting for availability!!!! When can we buy some c4?

Yeah, my new boomslang is on the way, and I want some C4 for it

 

[sobrien42]

Originally posted by: Maddscientist
Man Still waiting for availability!!!! When can we buy some c4?

Hi! I've been out of town but tomorrow we'll review all the Beta Test Feedback and get back to you here about release of product and conclusions from Beta Testing. Sher

 

[Johnbear007]

Originally posted by: sobrien42

Originally posted by: Maddscientist
Man Still waiting for availability!!!! When can we buy some c4?

Hi! I've been out of town but tomorrow we'll review all the Beta Test Feedback and get back to you here about release of product and conclusions from Beta Testing. Sher

Thanks, I just got my Boomslang and was hoping to have some c4! Hopefully I can get some soon.

 

[sobrien42]

Ok--Here's what we have learned from the Beta Tests on C4:
1. C4 has been received extremely well and has performed even better than anticipated: Ratings were very high in Speed, Responsiveness, and improved performance. Many cited examples of vastly improved "kill" / hit rates; several reported improved standings in gaming competitions.
2. Performance of C4 (and non-C4) is greatly enhanced by use of Teflon Mouse Tape or Discs on the Mouse feet.
3. This did not come from the Test results but I know it to be true: We do not yet know the Lifespan of the product. The last thing we want to do is dissapoint this market so I have tried to price the product accordingly.
4. We need to ship C4 in a tube to avoid creasing by mail deliverers.
5. Many would like a different color / mounted product. This I cannot do at this price level.
6. Many would like a different size. This we can do.
7. C4 must be shipped and applied with care because it can crease or get air pockets. The bigger it is, the harder it may be to apply. We have therefore decided to CONDITIONALLY RELEASE the product with the following Conditional Release notes: "*Still in Beta Test; Lifespan Unknown; When applying, Take Great Care to avoid creases, bubbles; Strongly recommend Teflon Mouse Discs or Tape on Mice Feet; Ships in tube". Hopefully, this will allow the potential buyer to make a decision based on truthful disclosures.

A Thank you to all of you at the Forum for your interest and input. It's been a blast! The C4 is now available on our MouseWare page. Here I would like to continue to get feedback as the product is used. Some participants have not yet sent in feedback. Please do send those in as they are completed.

I would also like to hear comments on how we should increase market exposure for C4? Lan Parties? Gaming Competitions? Paid advertising on formats like Anandtech?

THANKS AGAIN! Sher

 

[Maddscientist]

You need to get it reviewed, reviewed and once again reviewed. Oh and did I mention reviews help?

LoL honestly the more repatable sites you get this to to do reviews the more product you will sell. If you can get it to at least 20 Review sites and 20 lan parties you will sell more c4 than you ever though possible. I mean Im planning on buying 3 16x16 sheets of it myself. 2 for myself and 1 for a gift......See If anybody from anandtech will review it why your at it? This stuff is honestly the sh!t !!! I miss mine so bad since it became unstuck to my mouse pad everything seems like its in slow motion now.....Buying some right when I get home!!!!

 

[Johnbear007]

I also agree that reviews are absolutley essential. I would really try to get Anandtech to do it, and if they are reluctant, point them here to show them that their own community is very intersted in a review of the product. I would also get it to other popular hardware sites like sharky extreme, and even Toms Hardware ( I dont like Tom's but it has a lot of readers, so it may help you)

The lan party sponsorship is a good idea as well, just make sure you dont give TOO many away, you want to give them a taste, but make sure people buy them as well. Overall I think the reviews are super important.

 

[Maddscientist]

Damn Damn Damn....They are already sold out of the 16x16 sheets! Crap hook a beta tester up! I wont buy 3 for now but at least let me buy one! I NEED SPEED......Overdramatic I know But I was really looking forward to getting my hands on this before this weekend

 

[sobrien42]

Originally posted by: Maddscientist
Damn Damn Damn....They are already sold out of the 16x16 sheets! Crap hook a beta tester up! I wont buy 3 for now but at least let me buy one! I NEED SPEED......Overdramatic I know But I was really looking forward to getting my hands on this before this weekend

Actually C4 is now available. I just fixed the site (8:40 pm CST)...had a wee problem with Buy Now Buttons going goofy but now it appears they are in working order. Sher

 

[Maddscientist]

Nice snagged some and posted it around the net this stuff is to good not to share.

 

[sobrien42]

For the buyer who wants to try C4 but does not want to spend much $ because they are afraid it will be a waste-- what is the smallest size and shape we should offer? You know, like a sample pack with C4 & discs?? Ideas, anyone? Sample size must yield typify results of bigger pads.

Sher

 

[Savarak]

Hi Sher, its been a while!

anyway to answer your question

Since most mice are quite large, a "sample" could maybe be around at least 6" by 4"... my Internet Explorer mouse as an example, it is 5" inches long, and 2.5" wide, a 1" clearance up and down is decent, and a 1.5" clearance side to side is decent too. Although that isn't much smaller than the "small" you already offer, it seems to be(at least for me), a work-able size for a mousepad for general computer use(probably not for intense gaming though)

 

[zerocool1]

Best Tester # 28
1. I would describe myself as a gamer
2. For this beta test, I tested C4 an average of _8_hrs per day, _7_ of the days per week from __10/20__2003 to ___11/20__2003.
3. My mouse is __xoptical __wireless _x_wired __other_______
4. Type of Mouse: Mfr ______Microsoft intellimouse 4 button____________
5. Rate C4 for the following with 1 being the lowest and 10 being the highest rating:
Speed _10_
Responsiveness _7_
Smoothness _10_
Helps me compute/game better _8_
I would be willing to purchase C4 up to $_8_ per mat
Ergonomics (hand/wrist comfort) rating _6_
Color _7_
I would like a larger _x_ / smaller __ size
Overall rating _____8__________________________________
Additional comments: _____________Any idea on the life of the pads are?_______________________

 

[Stoerm]

Originally posted by: Johnbear007
Could someone please post feedback here regarding the use of these with a Boomslang

I dug my boomslang out of the closet and connected it to try out the C4 with it for you. I've been using a MS Intellimouse recently and moving back to the boomslang was a big change. I suspect it would take a while to get used to it again. You know how the hypersensitivity of the boomslang makes it a bit difficult to use until you've trained yourself up by suffering through the first few days of boomslang use? Well, imagine using that with the added difficulty of having the boomslang sliding around like a puck on an air-hockey board... that's pretty much what the boomslang is like when using the C4.

If you've got the mouse skills to put it to use, I suspect this might be a really nifty thing. I however, do not possess said mouse skills. I did not notice any skipping or other untoward behavior from the boomslang when used on the C4. Give it a shot! If you can keep up with the mouse, I think you'll enjoy it greatly!

 

[Savarak]

I just got mine in... haven't really gotten to test it on my main computer, but its absolutly great! On my laptop mouse at home, one without any teflon tape, it already floats like its on air! The feel of it resembles my Ratpadz before it wore out, but its even smoother than that $20 "investment" that stopped being smooth after 4 months. I'm definatly going to get a few more C4s in the next few days or so for friends and family, once I find a good way to present these as presents...(I don't know how they'll react when I give them "a mousepad.................." or "a sheet of gold colored plastic?!!??!")... maybe creating a good type of backing for it? I dunno... the shipping tubes are quite good stuff though, so I've got to figure out how to reuse them in the gift wrapping too... Any ideas?

 

[Savarak]

Bump... I still would like some ideas besides the cutting boards... I want to keep it cheap yet small/light enough for my gift recipients to enjoy using... I saw some wood type(like compressed cardboard) clipboards at walmart but they would seem to be quite large, and if I cut them to size then it won't look that well(the top edge would be fuzzy at the cutting point, which might make it break easily in the future if it contacts any water)... If I don't figure what to place the C4s on, then I guess I will just have to tell them to put them on their desk or current mousepad...

 

[NoVo]

I posted this in the Hot Deals forum, and thought people here in Peripherals would also be interested in my experience with the C4 surface.

Here is a picture of my C4 mounted.

Another pic.

This was a 3M Precision pad with wrist support. The original 3M surface peeled off extremely easy, and was used as a template for cutting the C4 material. Underneath the 3M surface is a semi-sturdy foam pad. The 8x9 kit I purchased was a perfect fit, and it came with Teflon discs as well.

I guess the recommendation that C4 not be mounted on a foam mouse pad is because it will warp and cause creases. The 3M surface I used is strong enough, but you must still take care when moving. I would not recommend this mounting method for a person wanting to take the C4 surface back and forth to LAN parties.

Anyhow, I am extremely pleased with the C4 surface. It is definitely much better than the original 3M precision surface, and the Teflon discs make my Logitech Dual Optical Mouse slide like butter.