We were quite impressed with the little and simple Viako ML-55 chassis and thus expected to find similar attributes within the Viako ML-Style. For a HTPC chassis two aspects are on top of everyone's wish list: looks and low operating noise. The Viako ML-Style offers both as the materials used and the overall design are excellent and the included fan in combination with the passive power solution results in quiet usage. As with every compact ITX chassis, the user is more willing to compromise with the components used, which is something you will have to do here as well.
There is naturally no way to stuff a big CPU cooler in the case and as seen in this review, blindly installing desktop components will also result in various problems. All this can be forgiven as there are simple solutions to this, but the fact that a standard Sony ODD drive cannot be secured properly is a bigger issue. While normal tape did the trick, this is certainly not something you would expect to be using. Interestingly enough, the images on the Viako website never show the chassis fully assembled with an optical drive present. Due to the fact that the case is affordable and the problems can be solved with more or less conventional methods, I think one will be quite happy with the final result of owning the chassis, thus the Recommended Award. If Viako can fix the issue of the ODD assembly, then there is nothing in the way of an Editors Choice - so Viako get that engineering team cracking!