Elonex Artisan VX Viiv media centre PC

The other issue is that the Artisan VX ran quite hot. I was told by Elonex that this won't be a problem as long as the air vents aren't covered up, though this can easily happen in a tightly-packed AV stack. So it's crucial you make sure there's good ventilation wherever you place a Artisan VX. Unfortunately, it's quite deep - it measures 43 x 44 x 10cm - so it may not fit easily in some AV units or shelving systems.

I'd also suggest you make sure you either live in a good TV reception area or have an external aerial to make the most out of the TV tuner cards.

Verdict

If you're a fan of Windows XP Media Center Edition, Elonex's Artisan VX is a good, well-specified choice. However, if you just want something to replace your VCR, there are far cheaper solutions that will offer much the same functionality without Windows - and without the Viiv quirks.

At £1,199 inc. VAT, the Artisan VX doesn't come cheap, but it does everything: it'll play just about any video format, you can easily install any codecs that don't come in the box, it will time-shift and record TV programmes, store and play your music, archive your photos and home movies, and so much more. ®