I have a Taipan as well, but I notice the same finicky issues with it as I did with my other laser mice. I'm almost 100% sure that the Taipan isn't a hybrid infrared/laser mouse.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Razer_USA# ... se_devicesJudging by that finish on that aluminum mouse pad I'm pretty sure it would be horrible for tracking. The more reflective it is, the worse it is for tracking. That's generally why hard surfaces with a mirror or shiny finish work terribly. Good mousepads are usually very dark or use a color that doesn't reflect.
Apparently Amazon still sells fUnc mousepads even though their website has been down forever... It doesn't look like they have a whole lot of popularity anymore. My original one was a fUnc 1030.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_ ... c+mousepadSorta funny. I actually ended up rotating that pad four times before I considered it used up. So my mouse wouldn't catch in one of the other warn out areas. Sadly those worn out areas also started affecting the tracking as they were shiny once they wore off.