Pros: Attractive look; low price; excellent performance.
Cons: Notchy wheel movement; very awkward function key.
Verdict: Priced at a competitive $25 street, the MX300 is an excellent low-budget mouse with a few minor annoyances.
Just in time for Christmas, Logitech has brought forth a new line of mice, featuring 3 different models all with an improved optical sensor. Showcased today is the budget MX300, competition for Microsoft's low-priced Optical Mouse Blue.
Overview To accompany the bare-bones price of the MX300 is a bare-bones layout. Identical in shape to their old Optical Wheel Mouse, the MX300 features a stylish black/silver colour scheme with a standard 2 button + wheel layout; but with an additional function key at the top as well. Like most Logitech mice, the MX300 is fairly heavy due to the small weight they placed in it. Whether this is good or bad is highly dependent on user preference, however.
Installation & Performance As usual, installation is very simple; plug it in and go (USB or PS/2). Logitech's MouseWare software is bundled, as are the appropriate drivers. Windows 95-XP is supported, as is MacOS 8.6, 9.0 and OSX.
Although there are few buttons to complain about, both the wheel and the small function key on the top are a little annoying to use. The wheel is very notch, more so than previous Logitech mice and is almost an effort to use; the annoying sound doesn't help too much either. The function button at the top is in a very awkward spot and is very difficult to press. Although it was a good idea, it was badly placed.
While sporting a budget price, the MX300 is far from a budget performer. The new MX optical sensor responds very precisely and smoothly; the sensor never loses track of its location, regardless of surface. All in all, it’s a very enjoyable mousing experience.
The Bottom Line With a street price of less than $25, the Logitech MX300 presents users a great looking, great performing mouse with only a few annoying and minor irks. While only around $5 more than the Microsoft Optical Mouse Blue, the MX300's pros far outweigh the measly cost.
-- By Dustin Jones, Consumer Technology Editor
Where to buy Logitech MX300 Optical Mouse?
User Review(s)
"Worlds Greatest Mouse!" As a graphic designer I have used many mouses, both optical and not, as well as standard and wireless... the Logitech MX300 is without a doubt the worlds greatest mouse, I will never consider buying any other brand or model... and if you want to get a mouse that has more buttons then the MX300 probably isn't your style, but you must still get a Logitech From eexea, August 05, 2004
"Best Mouse Around" I have tried the Dual Optical Mouseman, IBM Optical with light up scroll, Microsofts Blue. And none of them fit my style of grip. I use my fingers to move the mouse and all others I have tried with the exception of the regular Microsoft Ball Mouse hurt my hands. For gaming which can last for 8 hours straight as well as CAD work.. this will be the only mouse I ever use. Forget the Boomslang the company has moved overseas and the only way to get one is at EBay. But if you don't like your screwed. I have been using the MX300 for 2 days and it just outproformes all other mice on the market. The Dual Mousman was so big that I could not get smooth movements from it. Both the Mocrosoft And Mousemans Slip Pads stuck to my 50 cent mouse pad. But the MX300 slides like no other. From HidroHi, May 07, 2003
"Second to Perfect" This mouse is second to Perfect.
It fits in my hand like it
was made for me.
The precision of the movement
is unbeliveable. The paws
of the mouse are extremely
slippery. The buttons are
perfect.
Only bad thing i know have
discovered is that the wheelbutton
is a bit stiff, and the wheel
rolling is a bit awkward.
Otherwise its PERFECT. From mew, April 22, 2003
"mice is not stable enough" After boot up, I have to wait several minutes before the red light goes on. From time to time I even get no signal and have to boot again, without any result.
I use WinXP SP1, AMD Athlon XP2000+, and tried the PS/2 connector and USB connector on the case and hup. No better result. I even tried it on 3 other computers - no succes. I'm desperate From Roland from Belgium, January 29, 2003
"gamer" i played fps games like quake since -96 and spent about 1500 usdollar on mice ever since then. apart from a rather well known driver problem this mouse is the best by far i ever tried, and drivers will be updated, rumours say, before 2003. i use microsoft drivers which work very well, i only use the extra button and i dont mind that. gg logitech. From nagual, November 25, 2002
We're currently upgrading our user review system; so we won't be accepting new reviews for now. MX300 Optical Mouse Specs
Interface(s)
Original USB
Released date
September 2003
Platforms
Windows 95 (PS/2), Windows 98, Windows 98 SE, Windows ME, Windows NT 4.0 (PS/2), Windows 2000, Windows XP, MacOS 8.6, MacOS 9.0, MacOS X
