Apple TV

Very easy to use and set up ; AirPlay streaming rock solid ; Movies in 1080p HD quality ; AirPlay Mirroring with iOS devices

No TV tuner ; Still no iPlayer app ; AirPlay is locked-down ; Movie rentals are expensive

If you've already got some Apple devices in your home then Apple TV is a natural fit and at this price you should really consider getting one because it integrates wonderfully with your current setup.

1080p support added. Capable streaming from Macs, PCs, and iOS devices. Internet content from Netflix, MLB, NHL, NBA, and more. Streams photos from Flickr, iCloud Photo Stream, and MobileMe

Can’t add more content channels or customize interface. Can’t connect it to a TV without HDMI

If you’ve been waiting for 1080p, now’s the time to get an Apple TV, especially if you’re heavily invested in iTunes content and/or you want to beam your media from your Mac to your TV. But if your big-screen TV tops out at 720p, and you just want to...

Sparkling 1080p video quality ; Smooth streaming playback ; Great simple interface

No free content ; No Lovefilm ; Laborious keyboard set-up

The snazzily designed little box, Apple TV, with its new operating system and 1080p capabilities, delivers great quality video playback. Its selection of new movies, available from day of post-cinema release, plus its catalogue of old movies, is...

Compact size and design, ease of use and setup, excellent interface, good quality, AirPlay feature

No way to rent TV shows, no hard drive, HD content limited to 720p, limited content available compared to US

The Apple TV is competitively priced and boasts an excellent interface, so if you want an easy to use, basic solution to rent movies you'll appreciate its simplicity. Unfortunately, the lack of content – particularly the fact that Australian users...

Rent iTunes movies from your TV, streaming content from your computer to your TV, small, HDMI, optical connection

No browser, no NAS support, no music rental, not 1080p

Compared to the Boxee Box and Logitech's Revue, Apple TV is still a hobby

Ability to order a whole 'season' is handy, quality is okay

There are free alternatives

It works with Apple's customary ease of use, the quality is good and the selection of programmes extensive, but we're not convinced of the economics of paying nearly $2.99 an episode, when there are free alternatives.

Access your music and images and movies from your TV, easy to use, stream from over laptops

No parental controls, no internet radio, no iPod support, no off switch

If you've got an iTunes collection and want to share it, this is a better solution than just plugging your iPod in to the back of the TV

Ease of use and setup, design, attractive interface

No included cables, can't copy content in a specific order, tiny remote

Although we feel it could do more, Apple TV is a simple and effective way to get content from your PC or Mac into your lounge room.

Connects your Mac to your TV, Beautiful menu system, Connect up to five Macs

Only works with expensive televisions, Video format options are limiting, We still can't buy movies or TV shows

A good idea ruined by limited compatibility and a lack of UK focus

Works brilliantly and smoothly with online movies and TV programmes, while AirPlay makes it at home on an Apple network. The limited file support and lack of UPnP support is still a little disappointing, though