LOGITECH G300 REVIEW:
Gaming peripherals have carved a niche for themselves in today's competitive PC market and most gaming enthusiasts apart from just investing in the CPU [as a whole RAM + GPU + Processor] also make a sizeable investment in their peripherals, i.e., mouse + keyboards.
From the Cyborg R.A.T. line-up to the Gigabyte M6880 there are gaming mice catering to a wide audience and budget options, this is where Logitech steps in with a claim of being world #1 in mice and having a dedicated G-series line-up of gaming peripherals ranging from mice to gaming headsets, they spawned the venerable MX 518 which had held its own in the gamer circles for the past ~5 years against a constant wave of competitors like the Razer Death Adder to the more recent Cooler Master line of gaming mice. Due for a change of guard Logitech has released the G400 and G300 in the market.
The G400 is the reincarnation of the MX 518 with a updated sensor and improved body design [shell shape and feel is same as the MX 518], while the G300 is a smaller design with an ambidextrous layout heading into the Razer Abyssuss and Gigabyte M6880 budget segment of gaming mice.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Upon first gazing on the mouse I had a feeling it is small, I earlier had a Razer Salmosa on my RIG detail and true to that feeling the mouse is really a tiny bit smaller than the Salmosa though the shell feels a lot more robust to the touch as well as the overall build quality is much better than the Razer.
My old Salmosa dwarfs the G300 by a wee little bit.
The G300 comes in a box that is of the same layout as the other G-series mice [G 400, G500 et al], it is a Spartan package but effective all the same, no flash like Razer but details all the features of the mouse and comes with a warranty disclaimer, quick start guide and contact info. for Logitech East-Asia. No stickers or other such goodies are bundled. The mouse sports 3 basic profiles [locked] on its on-board memory and can be customised for another 6 profiles using LOGITECH Gaming software.
That is the bundle a quick start guide and contact information on the back, I know environment friendly and all but Logitech could give a few stickers at-least!!
Being an ambidextrous layout the mouse has both its flanks sculpted as thumb rests with good texture rubber making slippery grip a thing of the past. Slightly above these rests there are LED strips that light up and are customisable for up to 8 different colours [different lighting for different profiles].
ERGONOMICS & BUILD
The mouse as mentioned earlier is small, but that has not posed as an insurmountable mountain in my path that impairs my functionality while using it. Instead my claw grip has adjusted into a pseudo-claw / finger grip and I find it easy to use. The only major gripe I found while using this mouse was that cycling between the G7 / G6 in rapid succession was cumbersome though once I clock enough hours on this mouse I will get used to it. Southpaws might feel the same issue with the G5 / G4 buttons initially.
Beautiful sculpted top, southpaws rejoice .
The G300 eschews the customary side-buttons on most mice in favour of all top mounted buttons to keep the ambidextrous layout fully functional for all the gamers irrespective of which hand they use, also this allows the mouse to have a very unique sculpted symmetrical shape. The lack of side buttons also made space for the bling side LED strips which allow the user to track which profile they are on.
Disclaimer: This is my personal experience for some people this mouse might be unbearable to use but users of a mouse the size of the Razer Abyssuss / Salmosa can give this mouse a shot.
Moving on to build quality LOGITECH has not compromised on this aspect, the top and main buttons [left and right-click] are made of a matte grey plastic, held in place by a glossy black plastic surface which have rubber flanks as thumb rests. The extra buttons are crafted from a hard plastic with a matte black finish which gives them a sturdy footing on the mouse and aid in giving excellent tactile response. The Achilles heel of the mouse, its scroll wheel is constructed of a polymer plastic material and although the feel and construct is good the tactile response is missing and the scroll function is very free.
The Red bottom -- aesthetic folks scream SACRILEGE!!
The bottom is composed of three Teflon (actually UPE) feet on a glossy red base [LOGITECH could have made it black all over in my opinion], the bottom has some specifications etched, the power drawn [via USB] and the conformance to environmental standards with the mandatory 'Made in China' stamp. Also the optic sensor is slightly offset to the left. Although not explicitly mentioned anywhere on the box OR accompanying documentation the sensor is always on.
The cable used for the mouse is standard rubber sheathed cable with a USB 2.0 port, Logitech claims to support a 1MHz poll rate and I'm inclined to believe them on this aspect. Lack of braided cable is not a great concern seeing its retail price, as I keep my cable tied up well I have not experienced any tangling issues and the rubber does not exhibit any problems of being excessively brittle[waiting for summers to see if the cable heats up and becomes slippery] the wire does not react to any humidity / temperature changes. The USB-port housing used is well made and thinner in comparison to my Salmosa's housing which being wider used to encroach upon the space of other ports around itself.
Little monster
The mouse can take a lot hammering, something that its size belays. The only issue I feel in the construct is the jarring red base which clashes violently with the piano black and matte grey top. The scroll wheel is another aspect that needs to be looked into, the graded clicks do not feel apt and it is the only major issue I found in an overall well-constructed and well thought out piece that is the G300.
This is how I use my mice, the first two are Claw-grip whilst the last is an example of Fingertip-grip.
PLUG & PLAY
The G300 is truly plug and play supportive; it comes with three default profiles in the following order “ MMORPG, FPS and Productivity. As mentioned earlier these are on-board locked profiles till you download the LOGITECH Gaming software and customise them to liking. They do their job but you will need to refer to the Quick Start guide to see which button is liaised to what function.
Simple to the eyes, even simpler to configure.
Once the custom software is in your hands the mouse really comes into its own, you can liaise profiles to individual games / software [the profile will kick in for a particular game OR software] and if you have a good broadband connection the software will auto update the latest supported games and their preset profiles. LOGITECH has not bundled the custom software in the box and you have to download it from here -- http://www.logitech.com/en-in/support/mice/gaming-mouse-g300?section=downloads&bit=&osid=14#section=downloads.
Definitely the G300 aces out the entire competition in its price-band by offering so much customisability and it is not as if the software is very difficult to adjust to it is very intuitive and simple to use, to liaise a particular button to any function [keystroke / custom combo / game combo / hotkey / shortcut et al] is as simple as drag and drop the function onto a button OR using a drop-down list.
As I do not have an active internet connection, I prefer using the on-board profiles for which I have downloaded the custom software and used the following games to test the mouse --
RTS: World in Conflict: Soviet Assault [2007]: had to create a custom profile to liaise commands onto the hotkeys.
Set-up for WiC control scheme, no frantic search for hotkeys / keystrokes in the midst of a battle.
FPS: Crysis [2007], S.T.A.L.K.E.R. CoP [2010]: in both these titles I could go into the game options itself and liaise / change keystrokes et al onto the mouse from their keyboard counterparts.
Default -- CUSTOM.
RPG:TESV: Skyrim [2011]: for this game I could again go into the game itself and carry out the necessary changes, though I was used to the keyboard so much that I returned to defaults.
FINAL WORDS: MORE MOUSE PER MOUSE
Coming to the end of this review, I have lifted the tag line from an old Tata Indica advert, just as a pun because the LOGITECH G300 is great for what is on offer and at the price it has been retailing.
I had bought this mouse after it came to my attention in the PC Peripherals section of the forum when #touzeen Sire posted a requirement for a cheap mouse for claw-grip to replace his own Salmosa.
FOR
Excellent build quality [minus the scroll wheel], plenty of features, very well structured and intuitive custom software, ambidextrous layout and a very palatable price.
AGAINST
Ambidextrous design and small size not for everyone [lack of side-buttons], mouse is on the lighter scale of things and substantial lift-off distance [~5mm].
The overall tally for the LOGITECH G300 in my views is --
and my first review to get the vaunted --
After speaking to a few senior members I have added a few more details to the review along with the newly incepted TE badges.
I would like to thank all who read this review as well as the members who proof-read it and told me how to improve it further. Also thanks to Logitech for releasing this mouse and truly reiterating their claim as The world #1 in mice.
In Dead Space 2 the controls need to be configured completely in gaming software [CUSTOM PROFILE], in game control scheme doesn't recognize extra buttons.
mouse was purchased for Rs.1340/- from Jainex Computers, Bangalore. Prices will vary from city-to-city.
Gaming peripherals have carved a niche for themselves in today's competitive PC market and most gaming enthusiasts apart from just investing in the CPU [as a whole RAM + GPU + Processor] also make a sizeable investment in their peripherals, i.e., mouse + keyboards.
From the Cyborg R.A.T. line-up to the Gigabyte M6880 there are gaming mice catering to a wide audience and budget options, this is where Logitech steps in with a claim of being world #1 in mice and having a dedicated G-series line-up of gaming peripherals ranging from mice to gaming headsets, they spawned the venerable MX 518 which had held its own in the gamer circles for the past ~5 years against a constant wave of competitors like the Razer Death Adder to the more recent Cooler Master line of gaming mice. Due for a change of guard Logitech has released the G400 and G300 in the market.
The G400 is the reincarnation of the MX 518 with a updated sensor and improved body design [shell shape and feel is same as the MX 518], while the G300 is a smaller design with an ambidextrous layout heading into the Razer Abyssuss and Gigabyte M6880 budget segment of gaming mice.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Upon first gazing on the mouse I had a feeling it is small, I earlier had a Razer Salmosa on my RIG detail and true to that feeling the mouse is really a tiny bit smaller than the Salmosa though the shell feels a lot more robust to the touch as well as the overall build quality is much better than the Razer.
My old Salmosa dwarfs the G300 by a wee little bit.
The G300 comes in a box that is of the same layout as the other G-series mice [G 400, G500 et al], it is a Spartan package but effective all the same, no flash like Razer but details all the features of the mouse and comes with a warranty disclaimer, quick start guide and contact info. for Logitech East-Asia. No stickers or other such goodies are bundled. The mouse sports 3 basic profiles [locked] on its on-board memory and can be customised for another 6 profiles using LOGITECH Gaming software.
That is the bundle a quick start guide and contact information on the back, I know environment friendly and all but Logitech could give a few stickers at-least!!
Being an ambidextrous layout the mouse has both its flanks sculpted as thumb rests with good texture rubber making slippery grip a thing of the past. Slightly above these rests there are LED strips that light up and are customisable for up to 8 different colours [different lighting for different profiles].
ERGONOMICS & BUILD
The mouse as mentioned earlier is small, but that has not posed as an insurmountable mountain in my path that impairs my functionality while using it. Instead my claw grip has adjusted into a pseudo-claw / finger grip and I find it easy to use. The only major gripe I found while using this mouse was that cycling between the G7 / G6 in rapid succession was cumbersome though once I clock enough hours on this mouse I will get used to it. Southpaws might feel the same issue with the G5 / G4 buttons initially.
Beautiful sculpted top, southpaws rejoice .
The G300 eschews the customary side-buttons on most mice in favour of all top mounted buttons to keep the ambidextrous layout fully functional for all the gamers irrespective of which hand they use, also this allows the mouse to have a very unique sculpted symmetrical shape. The lack of side buttons also made space for the bling side LED strips which allow the user to track which profile they are on.
Disclaimer: This is my personal experience for some people this mouse might be unbearable to use but users of a mouse the size of the Razer Abyssuss / Salmosa can give this mouse a shot.
Moving on to build quality LOGITECH has not compromised on this aspect, the top and main buttons [left and right-click] are made of a matte grey plastic, held in place by a glossy black plastic surface which have rubber flanks as thumb rests. The extra buttons are crafted from a hard plastic with a matte black finish which gives them a sturdy footing on the mouse and aid in giving excellent tactile response. The Achilles heel of the mouse, its scroll wheel is constructed of a polymer plastic material and although the feel and construct is good the tactile response is missing and the scroll function is very free.
The Red bottom -- aesthetic folks scream SACRILEGE!!
The bottom is composed of three Teflon (actually UPE) feet on a glossy red base [LOGITECH could have made it black all over in my opinion], the bottom has some specifications etched, the power drawn [via USB] and the conformance to environmental standards with the mandatory 'Made in China' stamp. Also the optic sensor is slightly offset to the left. Although not explicitly mentioned anywhere on the box OR accompanying documentation the sensor is always on.
The cable used for the mouse is standard rubber sheathed cable with a USB 2.0 port, Logitech claims to support a 1MHz poll rate and I'm inclined to believe them on this aspect. Lack of braided cable is not a great concern seeing its retail price, as I keep my cable tied up well I have not experienced any tangling issues and the rubber does not exhibit any problems of being excessively brittle
Little monster
The mouse can take a lot hammering, something that its size belays. The only issue I feel in the construct is the jarring red base which clashes violently with the piano black and matte grey top. The scroll wheel is another aspect that needs to be looked into, the graded clicks do not feel apt and it is the only major issue I found in an overall well-constructed and well thought out piece that is the G300.
This is how I use my mice, the first two are Claw-grip whilst the last is an example of Fingertip-grip.
PLUG & PLAY
The G300 is truly plug and play supportive; it comes with three default profiles in the following order “ MMORPG, FPS and Productivity. As mentioned earlier these are on-board locked profiles till you download the LOGITECH Gaming software and customise them to liking. They do their job but you will need to refer to the Quick Start guide to see which button is liaised to what function.
Simple to the eyes, even simpler to configure.
Once the custom software is in your hands the mouse really comes into its own, you can liaise profiles to individual games / software [the profile will kick in for a particular game OR software] and if you have a good broadband connection the software will auto update the latest supported games and their preset profiles. LOGITECH has not bundled the custom software in the box and you have to download it from here -- http://www.logitech.com/en-in/support/mice/gaming-mouse-g300?section=downloads&bit=&osid=14#section=downloads.
Definitely the G300 aces out the entire competition in its price-band by offering so much customisability and it is not as if the software is very difficult to adjust to it is very intuitive and simple to use, to liaise a particular button to any function [keystroke / custom combo / game combo / hotkey / shortcut et al] is as simple as drag and drop the function onto a button OR using a drop-down list.
RTS: World in Conflict: Soviet Assault [2007]: had to create a custom profile to liaise commands onto the hotkeys.
Set-up for WiC control scheme, no frantic search for hotkeys / keystrokes in the midst of a battle.
FPS: Crysis [2007], S.T.A.L.K.E.R. CoP [2010]: in both these titles I could go into the game options itself and liaise / change keystrokes et al onto the mouse from their keyboard counterparts.
Default -- CUSTOM.
RPG:TESV: Skyrim [2011]: for this game I could again go into the game itself and carry out the necessary changes, though I was used to the keyboard so much that I returned to defaults.
FINAL WORDS: MORE MOUSE PER MOUSE
Coming to the end of this review, I have lifted the tag line from an old Tata Indica advert, just as a pun because the LOGITECH G300 is great for what is on offer and at the price it has been retailing.
I had bought this mouse after it came to my attention in the PC Peripherals section of the forum when #touzeen Sire posted a requirement for a cheap mouse for claw-grip to replace his own Salmosa.
FOR
Excellent build quality [minus the scroll wheel], plenty of features, very well structured and intuitive custom software, ambidextrous layout and a very palatable price.
AGAINST
Ambidextrous design and small size not for everyone [lack of side-buttons], mouse is on the lighter scale of things and substantial lift-off distance [~5mm].
The overall tally for the LOGITECH G300 in my views is --
and my first review to get the vaunted --
After speaking to a few senior members I have added a few more details to the review along with the newly incepted TE badges.
I would like to thank all who read this review as well as the members who proof-read it and told me how to improve it further. Also thanks to Logitech for releasing this mouse and truly reiterating their claim as The world #1 in mice.
In Dead Space 2 the controls need to be configured completely in gaming software [CUSTOM PROFILE], in game control scheme doesn't recognize extra buttons.
mouse was purchased for Rs.1340/- from Jainex Computers, Bangalore. Prices will vary from city-to-city.
