Best PC pad option?

This summer, I'm trying to make it a point to exercise 3 or 4 times a week. My main forms of exercise include riding bike, jogging, and (as I'm sure you can guess) playing DDR, which I haven't done extensively for a while. My current softpad is alright; I've figured out a way to keep it from sliding around at least. But the sensors aren't the greatest; the pad is still playable but it could definitely be better, especially considering I'm aiming for a few PFC's (of which I currently have none). Also, I recently figured out how to connect my laptop to my home theater system with the main intent of playing Stepmania with a pad, but I currently have no way of doing so.

So here's my main question: What would be the best way for me to hook a pad up to my laptop? Right now my options appear to be either to buy a new pad that has a built-in USB, or buy a PS2 -> USB adapter. I'd prefer not to spend too much money, so buying a metal pad is probably not an option (unless I am persuaded to invest in one).

Also, on a semi-related note, what works best as a pseudo-bar? I'm using a wooden chair right now which is alright but it's kind of awkward.

Putting something like this under the pad is the quickest solution to stop is sliding around. You can get them at pretty much any department store, and lay one or two under the pad :

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Non-Slip-Pad-Carpet-Sheet/dp/B004UF9F4I/ref=pd_sxp_f_pt

Actually investing in a new pad is hit or miss, depending on how you play. Scoring PFCs at home is something you can do with a soft pad with a lot of practice and discipline, but it almost always means playing with a different stance and balance than you would in the arcade. It might require playing hundreds of songs at much lower scores than you'd get in an arcade, before you start to adapt and improve your game.

A lot of people think "If the pad is metal and it has a sturdy bar, then I'll get easier PFCs than on a shitty soft mat", then spend the money on one, and realise that they still have to adapt to it, before they can reap the benefits. Even the heaviest mats shift all over the place if you don't lift your feet high enough, or you shift too much of your balance when you step.

Basically, buy what you can afford, and be prepared to practice, because no matter what you end up buying, it'll feel shitty and alien for the first hundred songs you play on it. If you want to learn to play without a bar, then now is a good time to do that. If you feel you need a bar, then go shopping for a chair that feels right, buy it, and just treat it as part of the pad purchase.

Well I've only played DDR at an arcade about 5 times in my life so that won't be a problem. And I have a few of those non-slip pads that I am using, as well as something similar to this that I put the mat on instead of putting it on carpet.

Thanks for your advice. I'll try a bit more on the pad I have now and see what I need to do. As far as USB, I've looked around on the interwebs a little bit and I think I've found that this is the most reliably good PS2->USB converter for Stepmania. Does anyone have any experience with this or any other adapter?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Gamesis-Multi-Platform-Dance-Dance-Revolution-Non-Slip-Pro-Pad-/271215737579?pt=US_Video_Game_Controllers&hash=item3f25b7baeb

get this pad!!!! It's a very good pad

http://www.angelfire.com/pro2/softpadmod/#_Toc71480697

And do this mod if you want to. The pad isn't so bad on sliding but if you wanna stop all sliding.... This is how I have my ddr set up and I have FC a few songs with 2 or 3 greats and fc Healing-D-Vision . well, I hope you find what fits you

I would go with the pad linked in the post above me, and try modding it, rather than spending a ton on an adapter. There must be a hundred different adapters out there for $1, and most of them work perfectly fine, while good pads.

If you've only played in the arcade a handful of times, don't worry about using a bar at all, especially if you want use DDR as a form of exercise. Using the bar will let you get higher scores and play more songs per hour, by using much less energy to play each song. It doesn't sound like that's actually what you want to do?

I'm not exactly sure. I do want to use DDR as a form of exercise but I'm also looking to get higher scores. I'll just see how I can do without a bar then. And I have seen and considered that mod above, but I decided against it for now with my current pad. I think that I will buy that pad and mod it, but maybe not for a few days (I ordered the Rocksmith Real Tone Cable and it should be arriving tomorrow, I don't want to spilt my attention). I was wondering though, other than stopping the sliding, what are the advantages to modding the pad? I kinda feel like a noob asking so many questions...

Well for me, because we added a few things under the pad, it is easier to find the arrows (because they are a tad bit higher) and if you wanted to, you can wear your shoes.

That does sound like a good idea. I will definitely mod that pad then. Thank you both for your help!

your welcome, and for the plastic, I couldn't find Vinyl so I used this plastic (I forgot what its callled) its meant to put on the floor for painting the walls, and I got a huge roll for $10 have fun staying fit!!