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The idea of the ValueRays/IGMProducts Warm Mouse Pad is to provide some heat to your mouse hand via the USB ports on your PC. It also touts a 4-port USB hub. It is sold through ValueRays (the same folks who provides the Warm Mouse which I use every day and can endorse). But you can skip this one. It’s much too large, it doesn’t heat up very well, and when I tried to return it for a refund never heard back from them. So I’m out in the cold for $29.99 plus the return shipping.
Product Information
| Price: | $29.99 |
| Manufacturer: | ValueRays |
| Pros: |
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I have one large problem with ValueRays products. The $10/item to get a 90 day warranty seems to indicate they have no faith in their products and is a bit hard to swallow for items costing $20-25.
This is what I do not understand about ANY of these “USB WARMERS” be it gloves, mice, pads, slippers and `other`. The USB specifications are designed for a 100mA rating per usb device, with a max of 500mA per port on your computer.
A draw of over 500mA on a port can damage your USB controlers quite easily. Now you take your standard efficient heating coil that is used in most heating device. We are talking 5A+ That is 5000mA+.
So we are left with two possibilities. A. The device will take forever to warm up and provide very little heat. Or. B. Device malfunctions, and blow your USB controler.
Either way I think I’ll stick to some gloves and a jacket while working on my computer.
The heating element is a 5v carbon fiber heating element coiled on top of the mouse pad under the top surface. It is designed to take the chill off the surface of the pad, NOT heat the pad like the heated mouse where the heating element is concentrated in one spot on top of the mouse. The element is spread across the surface and provides a warmth, not heat. It is made this way to be safe for both people and the computer. Also, only unused items are returnable when an email is sent within 48 hours of delivery. Hope this clarifies any questions. Happy Holidays….. stay warm!
How can you tell that an item doesn’t work if you don’t use it? It took more than two days to try it out on several computers (in several locations) to determine if it was the pad that was defective or the USB ports. I sent the entire contraption back and never received any type of acknowledgment. At least if I hadn’t sent it back I’d have a USB hub (albeit an expensive one).
I guess they have never heard of the UCC and the idea of implied warranty of merchantability. Basically, if it doesn’t work, it isn’t merchantable. I don’t think the disclaimer on the package and site meet most state or the UCC standards to avoid the implied warranty. I know I will never buy from them until they provice a reasonable warranty.
Good to know who stands by their products and who does not.
ValueRays® STANDS BEHIND THEIR PRODUCTS 100%. The WARM Mouse Pad works PERFECTLY. It works EXACTLY as the manufacturer has it designed to work. The surface gets WARM not HOT just like the item’s description states. Plus, we stand behind all of our products. A person can’t use a product for a few weeks and then decide they don’t like it and want to return it. Just like any other item a person purchases, there’s a return policy which must be followed.
I bought my Valurays Mouse III back in October 09 and by Feb it stopped heating. I have taken it apart to make sure the coils are intact, which they seem to be, and I can’t find anything else wrong with it, but after an email sent to the company, NO RESPONSE. You won’t find me buying another one. I’m back to frozen hands and tons of hot water to keep me warm.
@Suzanne — Yah, that’s too bad, I have the pink mouse and i love it. The mouse pad warmer, not so much.
Here is a link to the mouse. I can’t speak for the quality control of the product, but boy the one I have really works great.
http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/10/28/warm-but-not-fuzzy-valuerays-mouse-review/
i use the warm mouse and mouse pad and have found both to be perfect. i have a condition known as Raynaud’s which causes the fingers to turn blue or white. the warm mouse and pad stops that problem for me. i definitely think it’s worth a try for people in my situation.