What you're actually getting
It's a 800x300mm desk mat, so proper large, covering most of a standard desk space. The surface is the usual smooth microfibre you'd expect at this price. Stitched edges, non-slip rubber base. Nothing fancy, nothing broken either. The gimmick, if you want to call it that, is the printed Excel shortcut reference along the left side. Ctrl+Shift+End, quick sum, freeze panes, the lot.
Who this is actually for
Honestly? It's for someone who uses Excel regularly but hasn't fully committed the shortcuts to memory yet. Think a student doing data coursework, someone new to an office job, or a small business owner who lives in spreadsheets but never had formal training. I showed one to a mate who does bookkeeping for a few local shops. She laughed, then immediately asked where to get one.
It is not for power users who already know their Ctrl+Z from their Ctrl+Alt+F9. You'll find the printed shortcuts more distracting than useful after about a week.
The honest reservations
The cheat sheet only covers Excel. If you're a Google Sheets person, or you split your time across Word and Outlook, the reference panel is mostly decorative. And at this size, it does take up a chunk of desk. Fine if you've got the room, a bit awkward if you're working on a smaller setup.
For £3.60 though, the mat itself is not half bad as a basic large desk pad. The shortcuts are a bonus that'll either earn their keep or quietly fade into the background. Either way, you're not losing much.
