Sony is to recall 18,000 Vaio laptops capable of giving their owners a very mild electric shock. The company blames a dodgy modem.

The model fitted with this little shocker is the FV (or FVR if you bought it in the States). The units due for recall are mostly in Japan, - around 13,000, with another 3,000 and 2,000.

Repairs and, we guess shipping, are free. Sony reckons the recall and refit bill will come in at 500m yen (approx US$4.25m).

Only 10 people have complained about the modem and no injuries have been recorded, Sony told Reuters. A spokeswoman likened the shock to strength of a static electricity charge. ®