The Logitech Gaming Mouse G300 ($39.99 direct) isn't for the hardcore gun slinger. It's more in tune with the casual Call of Duty player, looking for better performance and features than they'd get out of a standard computer mouse. Its budget price tag makes it an easy choice for first-person shooter players on a budget, and gamers that may not appreciate why you would possibly want to spend $129.99 on a gaming mouse like the Razer Mamba (2012) ($129.99 direct, 4 stars). And though its configuration software may look anemic to enthusiasts, beginners and everyday fans of first-person shooters (fps) will find what's included to be enough to cut their teeth on.

Design
Undiscriminating against right or left-handed users, the G300 has a symmetrical, ambidextrous design. The top of the mouse has a grey matte finish that's smooth under hand, and doesn't attract stains or smudge marks. The sides have a black rubberized coating to help you get a grip during long or intense gaming sessions. However, nothing beats the smooth soft-touch rubberized plastic on the Gigabyte M8000Xtreme ($59.99 list, 4.5 stars). There's also a glowing line drawn just above the grips, which starts in the middle and stops just as it starts to follow the back curve of the G300. This line lights up to one of eight customizable colors, adding some flair to the design. You can alter the colors within the configuration software (more on that later) correlating to what game profile you're in.The underside is fashioned out of red plastic, and a portion of it comes up along base of the device, giving the mouse a stand-out color against an otherwise black and grey color palette. There are nine programmable buttons in total: right and left-click, scroll button, two just below the scroll wheel, and two on either side of the left- and right-click buttons.

The G300 feels light and hollow in-hand compared with other mice; I prefer a gaming mouse with a little more heft to it, so I don't feel like I'm about to fling the mouse across the room at the slightest jerk.

Features and Configuration Software
The G300 is wired, and while casual gamers may prefer to clear out the clutter and go for a wireless solution, you won't be able to get a true 1,000Hz ultrapolling rate that will help keep your shots accurate and your connection stable. There is a plug-and-play functionality when you first connect the mouse to your PC, however, in order to take full advantage of the G300, you'll want to download the configuration software off Logitech's site. The software is only available for Windows XP, Vista, and 7—no Mac support. The mouse does come with on-board memory, so you'll be able to go to a foreign PC and play without having to download the software again—with all your pre-configured settings intact.

The configuration software is toned down when compared with more advanced gaming mice like the SteelSeries Xai ($89.99 direct, 3.5 stars) and Mamba. The user interface (UI) is an image of the G300 with its programmed functions branching off of each button. When customizing, you click on the button you want to change and you're given a drop-down menu to Edit, Use Generic (the default setting), or Unassign. Clicking on the Edit option opens up a window that gives you a sort list of preset button functions, like Left Click, DPI Up, Mode Switch, and so on. You can also choose to assign a keystroke to a mouse button, but these macros can't get any longer or more detailed than Ctrl + Alt + Delete. You can't record a long string of commands or time out when these functions should be executed, so it's perfect for new gamers to cut their teeth on.

Also in the UI is a box dedicated to adjusting your mouse sensitivity. You can set four levels of sensitivity (in case you have one of your buttons programmed to cycle through the DPI) and set a default DPI (in case you don't) from anywhere between 250dpi (good for keeping steady aim when sniping) and 2,500dpi (for when you need to turn around quickly in the heat of battle). You're allotted up to three profiles, each one a different color. So depending what profile you're in, the color of the aforementioned line above the grips will change to let you know.

The Logitech Gaming Mouse G300 is the perfect fps gaming mouse for casual PC gamers to cut their teeth on. Its bare-bones configuration software keeps it simple for newbies and user that want to spend more time playing and less time tinkering. On top of all this is the low price, making the G300 a safe investment. If you want more customizable options in your mouse, however, check out the Gigabyte M8000Xtreme or Razer Mamba (2012).

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