Any experiences with Hardiboard?

The time has come to replace the siding on our house. It's enough of a mess that it'd be a pretty good idea to tear off all the old shingles and replace it with new siding.

Wood siding gives me sticker shock, and I'm not fond of the look of vinyl siding, so I was thinking of going for an engineered product such as Hardiboard. Any recommendations, warnings, or other comments?

Thanks.

-- Cam