The guiding principle behind the Home Media Box 110 remains the same as on earlier models: a good value multimedia hard drive with solid performance but a low price.  That's the idea, anyway.

In terms of aesthetics, HMB have succeeded, with a small, sober case, which, in keeping with this model's entry-level price point, doesn’t include an LCD screen.

Instead, there is a simple power button joined by the bare essentials: Play and Stop.

The brushed aluminum finish gives a solid look, while the remote control is a decent size and a lot more satisfying than the paltry options seen on some other cheap and cheerful competitors that we've sen.

Good audio support, but no HD video

Inside, there's an ESS ES6430FAA, which means that there's little chance of exceptional multimedia compatibility.

Indeed, for videos, you better not expect anything better than Standard Definition formats, and even then, the HMB 110 is only compatible of accessing a bare minimum of formats: MPEG-1, MPEG 4 (DivX 6, XviD) and MP4.

Conspicuous by its absence is WMV support.

Things are much better for music, with MP3, WMA, AAC and OGG inputs all handled, as well as Dolby Digital.

Although not many people have photos in other formats, only JPEGs worth with this device.