Mouse pads, you love 'em, you hate 'em, but whatever you think, you can't live without them.

Func Surface 1030 Two part construction Double-sided sUrface Each side with unique traction qualities Mouse cord clip in six positions Mousing surface measures 10"x8.5" Less than 1/8" high Works with optical and ball mice Comes with instructions on mouse care and cleaning Cost: $19.95 USD via act-labs.com

Most of us use the super-cheap cloth covered foam pads that the store kicks in for free. These little islands of traction are good for the most part, but easily and quickly become dirty and disgusting. Option two of course is to buy a plastic surfaced mouse pad, but while these protect against spills, the surfaces are usually still glued to the same foam backing, and with use become overly smooth, with the foam rotting away at the same rate.

The foam backing makes a good attempt at sticking to the desk, but more often then not migrates over one corner, or rotates around in a odd spiral of death. Bottom line, if you like the disposable, mouse pad of the month ideal, then fine, stick with it. But even with the crappy mouse pads the cost of all those replacements eventually adds up, and what's more do you really want a dirty mouse pad on your desk when someone comes by?

Just imagine going into some executive's office where no expense has been spared for the decor, furniture, or computer. Now what would you think if you went over to the exec's computer for a moment so you could be shown some brilliant new million-dollar project; and there on the South American Walnut table top was a little blue mouse pad with its fabric lifting up in two corners, and looking like an oily rag from a service station?

I'll tell you, it would be pretty damn unimpressive!

How can you prevent such a travesty as this from occurring? Well, one option has just hit the market from Func Industries in the form of their Surface 1030.