MediaSmart UI isn't nearly as "pretty" as Vista Media Center (no animations or translucent menus).

ENGADGET: HP MediaSmart Connect Review HD

Finally, on the software side, HP is introducing native Hulu and Netflix to its MediaSmart software suite.

ENGADGET: HP leaks forthcoming Radeon GPUs, Core i3 CPUs, Hulu and Netflix software integration

If you are completely in love with the HP MediaSmart software -- we're not -- then it may be the perfect extender for you.

ENGADGET: HP MediaSmart Connect Review HD

From the first second you open the really cool packaging, there's a lot to like about the HP MediaSmart Connect, but the with a higher price, comes higher expectations.

ENGADGET: HP MediaSmart Connect Review HD

But with longer load times (30 seconds vs 8 of the Linksys), less outputs and identical performance when being used as an extender, the HP MediaSmart Connect simply doesn't knock off the current king, the DMA2100.

ENGADGET: HP MediaSmart Connect Review HD

These include low-cost remote access appliances like the PogoPlug, midrange NAS storage devices such as Netgear's Stora, and expensive but powerful solutions that cater to the technically inclined, such as HP's MediaSmart products powered by Windows Home Server.

ENGADGET: Switched On: MyDitto NAS has some key issues

MediaSmart UI is very slow.

ENGADGET: HP MediaSmart Connect Review HD