One or two of the previous offerings from Loewe haven't quite hit the mark, just seeming expensive rather than true 'premium options'.

But the new Loewe Connect 37 LCD TV fits the bill nicely.

A distinctive flatscreen

It's with its features that the 37in set most justifies its relatively high price. For starters, there's its truly extravagant design.

A combination of convex side panels, minimalist lines, a high gloss finish, and a nifty illuminated 'label' effect on the TV's rear side really make it distinctive.

What's more, the set uniquely comes in three finishes: high gloss black, high gloss white and matt chrome silver, and can be mounted on a variety of stand options.

Connect to your PC

Probably the single most defining feature of the Connect 37, though, is that it can be hooked up to any PCs around your home, either via direct ethernet connection or over wi-fi.

You can then play back digital photos or music files, or both simultaneously, from those PCs straight onto the TV, accessing all required files and folders via its remote control.

If you want to display pictures or listen to MP3 files onscreen without connecting to a PC, meanwhile, there is also a pair of ports for connecting USB storage devices.

The Connect 37 has one other secret weapon: an optional built-in HDD recorder. Dubbed DR+, this gives you a 160GB hard disk with multiple quality options for an extra - very reasonable - £200.

Other bits and bobs include Loewe's Image+ processing engine, with its focus on improving motion, detailing, noise levels colours and contrast, an optional free-to-air satellite tuner, a full HD resolution with 24fps support and a claimed contrast ratio of 5,000:1 delivered by a dynamic backlight system.

Awkward menus

Some elements of the Connect 37's operating system are excellent: we particularly like the onscreen instruction manual, the DR+ recording system works well and the remote control handset is commendably good.

What we don't like, however, is the way the onscreen menus make you navigate through reams of poorly signposted sub-menus.

We also dislike the way you have to stop the TV defaulting to a silly Panorama setting, rather than full widescreen, when watching standard-definition sources via a 'secret' service menu.

Meanwhile, if you're watching HD and you want to call in the TV's pixel-by-pixel 'no overscanning' mode, you have to choose a '16:9 PC' setting. Highly illogical.