Logitech 980186-0403 Consumer Microphone

I first purchased the Logitech microphone because I was looking for a relatively cheap microphone that could offer better performance than the in-computer microphone I was being forced to use. I am currently a college student and I planned to use the microphone because I had just gotten involved in research surrounding speech. I've been using the microphone on and off for about 2 years now, along the way trying out different types of microphones, including on-head and professional microphones.

Design
The first thing I noticed was that the microphone looks a little bit funny, like an artistic sculpture more than a computer device. While this is different from my other computer equipment, I can't say that a little bit of style isn't unwanted.
  The microphone has no volume controls and a very simple on/off button. I actually prefer that it doesn't have a volume control since there is already one on the computer. For instance, I have speakers that have independent volume controls and I usually just set them to the maximum and use the computer's volume controls. The lack of volume controls just gives me one less thing to check before using the mic. The on/off button is also nice to have. This way it can be plugged into the computer but not use any battery power.
  The microphone is at the very top of the lever. The lever only pivots back and forth, not side to side. I find this a little bit annoying because it makes it harder to adjust the microphone to the best position. Also, I've noticed that some people have the natural tendency to lean forward when they use the microphone to try and get their mouth closer. While this might be necessary at times, it can have the unwanted side effect of making your voice louder. This issue is almost always present in stationary microphones but can be eliminated by using a head-mounted mic.
  Finally, unlike head mounted microphones, the mic does take up desk space when you use it. I usually keep the microphone off my desk when I'm not using it for this reason. Additionally, its odd design also makes it a little bit tricky to try to store nicely. When you fold it up, the curve in the lever makes the microphone stick up quite a bit. However, the design is very sturdy. I've packed it multiple times in over stuffed boxes and it's held up very well. So in the end, it's not only artistic, but sturdy and practical as well.

Performance
As I mentioned earlier, I've used this microphone various times for work in speech research. As such, the mic's performance has always been very important.
  First, the quality of the recordings is very good considering the microphone's price. I've used a variety of microphones in the past and, so far, I haven't seen a mic of comparable price that performs as well. Speech recordings sound natural and clear, although at times the treble can be a little bit harsh, making the recordings sound tinny.  Also, if you speak too close the mic, the recordings can be a little distorted as well.
  One thing that I particularly like is it's rejection of common electrical noise. Electrical noise sounds just like white noise that's playing in the background of the recording. This is extremely present on your in-computer microphone. While this can be easily eliminated with most sound processing applications, I usually don't have to use any when I'm using this mic.
  Also, the mic is moderately directional. I think this is a result of placing the mic inside the tip of the lever arm. This is great if you want the person to hear only your voice when you're speaking but probably not so great if you plan to use the microphone to record other things, such as live music.
  Finally, I've noticed that the mic is prone to wind or breath noise. When you blow across the mic or use it outside, the wind noise comes through very loudly in the recordings. Some microphones use a wind shield or differently tuned mics to try and avoid this problem. Most of the time this isn't an issue but when it does come up it can ruin a recording or conversation.

Conclusion
For the price, I don't think you can go wrong buying this microphone. If you plan to use it to talk with friends or family over Skype, this microphone performs very well. Keep in mind that, unlike head mounted microphones, you will have to remain seated at the desk in order to use the mic and that it does take up some space, either on your desktop or elsewhere. I wouldn't recommend this microphone to someone looking for very high quality recordings or for recordings that require omni-directional capabilities.