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Mouse Talk! Stay Connected With The Sony VAIO VN-CX1 (6/3/2006)

Mouse one minute, Internet phone the next - introducing the VN-CX1, a multi-function device that really is like no other

The first thing you notice about the VAIO VN-CX1 is that it's very nicely designed for a mouse. Even so, it's still a surprise the first time you touch a button at the side and the mouse flips open to become a clamshell-style phone. Yet the idea is blissfully simple - why have two peripherals to deal with when you only need one?

Once you know its secret, the CX1's practical side comes to the fore. Connected to a PC or notebook enabled for Internet-based telephony, the CX1 can be used as a conventional handset or left on the desk for hands-free operation. A LED on top of the mouse lights up as a discrete indicator that someone is calling, or the CX1 can be set to ring as well if desired. During a call, the centre scroll wheel acts as a volume control and can also mute the phone.

Setup requires no more than a USB connection to the host machine and a simple driver installation. Once in use, its appeal is broad enough to cross over from consumers to professionals - the CX1 is ideal for private conversations in handset mode but just as good for conference calls in hands-free mode. It's also a very comfortable, responsive optical mouse with an 800dpi resolution for complete accuracy. Perfect for notebook users as well as desktops, the compact, lightweight (67g) CX1 is as portable as it is stylish. Black, Silver and Blue models are available, so there should be something for every taste.

"With the sudden explosion in Internet telephony (VoIP) showing no sign of slowing, Sony VAIO has solved the rather new problem of what to talk into," says says Colin Woodward, Group Product Manager for IT products at Sony UK. "And while there's no denying the CX1's quirky appeal - it's practical and highly versatile."

www.sony-europe.com