If, like me, you find Apple a little bit too smug, you'll be simultaneously impressed and annoyed by Apple TV. It's the 'cool' side of computing's attempt to repeat the success of iTunes, the iPod and iMac.

On the one hand, that represents a successful attempt to sweep away the techno-clutter and complication of using a new technology. On the other, it locks users into a restrictive, proprietary system that only works with one type of software and hardware. I'd love iTunes if it worked with my Creative or Archos MP3 players, but it doesn't.

Apple TV is a combination of media streamer and media server. It can play back audio, video and photos direct from your PC/Mac, or from iTunes online, but thanks to the built-in hard disc (40GB or a more practical 160GB), you can also use it to store a copy of your computer's media library (handy for laptop users).

Like the iPod and iMac, Apple TV looks really good. It's compact and elegant, though heavy. The Apple Remote is tiny with just seven controls, which is a bit of a joke. You're almost certain to lose it, and you can't even put the thing in standby, so it's burning 48W of 'leccy all day long.

The European product is identical to the US model, so I wouldn't recommend Apple TV if you rely on Scart - it doesn't even have a composite video output, let alone RGB. You do get component video, which can be expensively converted to RGB Scart, and there's HDMI for flat-panel owners.

There's also an optical digital audio out, and analogue stereo audio outputs. Network connections are via Ethernet or WiFi, which set up easily, and there's a USB port - although you can't plug an iPod into this. Really, it's just for servicing.

On a Mac, Apple TV connects instantly to iTunes; on our PC it took a few goes, then magically started working. You can choose to stream from any number of iTunes computers, or sync itself to one library, which can take a few hours if you've got a lot of media files. Once you're connected you can play back just as though you were using iTunes, using playlists and slideshows.