After so many reviews of this I don't think there is much that I can add.  It's about as simple as it gets as to mouse pads, but yet its all I need and personally I feel Belkin got it all right.  It's the perfect size and shape for me,. and, the gel pad is has been flattened at the top now, as opposed to the rounded type that I see on many of them.  The flattened style has the gel part coming in contact with more of your wrist and is even more comfortable and supportive...(The rounded gel pads eventually flatten with use anyway.  This one just gets it right from the start).  Also, even though there are some reviews that talk about its "compatibility" with an optical mouse, I have used nothing but optical mice for years and never even knew there was any form of compatibility with a mouse pad, good or bad.  In any event, I have had no problems and my mouse works perfectly on it...