Microsoft has teamed up with La-Z-Boy to come up with the ultimate gift for the couch potato geek.

The 'Explorer' is a plush reclining armchair with built-in gadgets for surfing the Net in pampered style. It comes with a Sony WebTV Plus Internet Receiver, wireless keyboard, electrical plug for a laptop, fold-out airline-style tray, drinks holder, storage space for TV controls, and jacks for regular dial-up or DSL connections.

The seat, dubbed the world's first 'e-cliner' by the companies, also comes with two free months of Microsoft WebTV service - which allows punters to use e-mail and the Internet and to play along with interactive programs on their regular TV.

It is available to grace living rooms across the nation from today, and will set punters back $1049 for the fabric version, and $1299 in leather/vinyl.

A picture of the chair can be found here. ®