Enfield, Conn. - December 7, 2006 – LEGO® MINDSTORMS® NXT has been named a winner of PC Magazine 's 23rd annual Technical Excellence Awards for robotics. Chosen by the magazine's editorial and PC Magazine Labs team, the awards celebrate the best technology achievements of the year. A profile on LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT and the other technologies will appear in the December 26 issue of PC Magazine and at http://go.pcmag.com/techex.

"LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT is one of the products that are redefining the cutting edge of technology,” said PC Magazine Editor-in-Chief Jim Louderback. "Each of the Technical Excellence Award winners has developed technology that is sure to become tomorrow’s gold standard."

Building upon the success of the globally-renowned Robotics Invention System (circa 1998), the next generation of LEGO MINDSTORMS makes it quicker and easier for robot creators to build a working robot in just 30 minutes. Simultaneously, new technologies and expanded sensor capabilities add a level of sophistication to excite and challenge more experienced robot creators. The heart of the new system is the NXT brick, an autonomous 32-bit LEGO microprocessor that can be programmed using a PC. After building a robot, users create a program within easy-to-use yet feature-rich programming software.

LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT is now available at most toy and discount merchandise retailers, like Toys "R" Us and Target, as well as at select consumer electronics retailers, like Apple Stores, Best Buy, Comp USA, as well as online, and has a suggested retail price of $249.99 (USD) and $349.99 (CAD).

"It is incredibly rewarding for us, especially as a toy company, to be recognized by the editorial team of PC Magazine for the technological achievement of our new consumer robotics toolset," said Joanna Gale, brand manager, LEGO Systems, Inc. "With LEGO MINDSTORMS we’ve been able to combine the trademark creativity of LEGO play with accessible, yet sophisticated technology to challenge budding roboticists, as young as ten years old, to build and program robots that do what they want."

About PC Magazine
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About the LEGO Group
The LEGO Group, a privately-held, family-owned company based in Billund, Denmark, is one of the world's leading manufacturers of play materials for children. The company is committed to the development of children's creative and imaginative abilities, and its employees are guided by the motto adopted in the 1930s by founder Ole Kirk Christiansen: "Only the best is good enough."

LEGO, MINDSTORMS and the LEGO logo are trademarks of the LEGO Group. © 2006 The LEGO Group.