Anyone ripping their DVD & watching off harddrive?
Not yet. I have all the pieces I need (server, network, BD Player that can see the server), but have not started ripping movies yet. Haven't decided if I'm going to compress to increase the number of movies I can store, or keep picture quality. Don't know if there is anything that can compress with no loss yet.
I do. Well, mostly I go torrent the things I own. Sure, still technically wrong, but I figure I paid for the damn thing, and I should be able to access it how I want.
Some things I can't find though, and those I have to rip. I use DVD Decrypter to get the files free of the DRM, then build an AVI out of them using Auto GK. I like that one because it lets you pick the target filesize, and it does all the work of figuring out the best settings to use to get that filesize. I usually shoot for 700Meg as the baseline for a movie, more if it's long or if I'm including multiple audio tracks (I like to have the commentary in there). I'm just not so much into the "must have super hi-def" mindset, the compressed AVI format at 720p is fine for me. But it'll do it however you like.
It's a slow process, but it works like a charm.
Edited By TPRJones on 1299645278
Some things I can't find though, and those I have to rip. I use DVD Decrypter to get the files free of the DRM, then build an AVI out of them using Auto GK. I like that one because it lets you pick the target filesize, and it does all the work of figuring out the best settings to use to get that filesize. I usually shoot for 700Meg as the baseline for a movie, more if it's long or if I'm including multiple audio tracks (I like to have the commentary in there). I'm just not so much into the "must have super hi-def" mindset, the compressed AVI format at 720p is fine for me. But it'll do it however you like.
It's a slow process, but it works like a charm.
Edited By TPRJones on 1299645278
"ATTENTION: Customers browsing porn must hold magazines with both hands at all times!"
Oh, I have a 4TB NAS sitting on the network where I store them. On my main TV I have an AppleTV hacked to run XBMC, and I watch them through that.
XBMC is excellent, but I'm not able to recommend the AppleTV as an ideal platform to run it on. It's done fine overall, but I would probably have been happier with something like the Acer Aspire Revo that was my other choice at the time. The AppleTV has a very hard time hanging on to it's wifi IP, so I finally ran a hard line across the room for it. And not having more than six buttons on the remote (not that I use the original remote, but that's all the buttons AppleTV understands) is pretty cumbersome sometimes.
If you do go for a similar setup, use a better platform and before you try XBMC give Boxee a shot. Boxee has a lot more flexibility in terms of what it can do for you, but at the time I did my setup I couldn't get it to play nice with my NAS so gave up and used XBMC. If you can get Boxee to accept your storage solution as a valid source then that would be potentially pretty awesome.
I'm looking forward to eventually getting my hands on GoogleTV to see what that's all about, but not until it gets released in a format that can be installed into my own hardware of choice.
Edited By TPRJones on 1299682420
XBMC is excellent, but I'm not able to recommend the AppleTV as an ideal platform to run it on. It's done fine overall, but I would probably have been happier with something like the Acer Aspire Revo that was my other choice at the time. The AppleTV has a very hard time hanging on to it's wifi IP, so I finally ran a hard line across the room for it. And not having more than six buttons on the remote (not that I use the original remote, but that's all the buttons AppleTV understands) is pretty cumbersome sometimes.
If you do go for a similar setup, use a better platform and before you try XBMC give Boxee a shot. Boxee has a lot more flexibility in terms of what it can do for you, but at the time I did my setup I couldn't get it to play nice with my NAS so gave up and used XBMC. If you can get Boxee to accept your storage solution as a valid source then that would be potentially pretty awesome.
I'm looking forward to eventually getting my hands on GoogleTV to see what that's all about, but not until it gets released in a format that can be installed into my own hardware of choice.
Edited By TPRJones on 1299682420
"ATTENTION: Customers browsing porn must hold magazines with both hands at all times!"
Actually, now I remember why I had to give up on Boxee. For some reason when I tried to play a file off my NAS on Boxee on the AppleTV, it would make my router reset. I could do it fine on Boxee on my PC. I can play the files with any other aps on my AppleTV just fine. But the specific combination of AppleTV + Boxee + NAS = ATT Uverse router reboot, every time.
It was weird.
It was weird.
"ATTENTION: Customers browsing porn must hold magazines with both hands at all times!"
WD has a box with a built in 1TB drive for $200. It will stream off of a server and has Netflix and many other apps built in as well. Supports wireless with a USB wireless adapter, but is not recommended for solid streaming. In all the reading I've done, wireless streaming has issues.
And again, there are many BD players that support Netflix and streaming from a server as well.
Don't you have a PS3? Don't they have the ability to play movies from a server?
Edited By Cakedaddy on 1299687459
And again, there are many BD players that support Netflix and streaming from a server as well.
Don't you have a PS3? Don't they have the ability to play movies from a server?
Edited By Cakedaddy on 1299687459
Cakedaddy wrote:Don't you have a PS3? Don't they have the ability to play movies from a server?
Yes but I want this ability more for our other TV where the PS3 is not hooked up.
Also Gordon do you have streaming on your PS3 set up? If so do you remember having to do anything out of the ordinary to be able to see your files? Right now I can connect to the pc but all I can see are the sample files that everyone gets with windows. I have seen some threads suggesting you download PS3mediaserver. Did you need that?
Edited By WSGrundy on 1299706139
As far as I know you need to use PS3 Media Server on whatever computer you want as your file server.WSGrundy wrote:Yes but I want this ability more for our other TV where the PS3 is not hooked up.Cakedaddy wrote:Don't you have a PS3? Don't they have the ability to play movies from a server?
Also Gordon do you have streaming on your PS3 set up? If so do you remember having to do anything out of the ordinary to be able to see your files? Right now I can connect to the pc but all I can see are the sample files that everyone gets with windows. I have seen some threads suggesting you download PS3mediaserver. Did you need that?
Yes, I have streaming set up, and that's how I do it. On the PS3 you just go to "Find media servers," and if the PS3MS is set up properly (if I recall, you just point PS3MS at the IP your PS3 is using), and they talk to each other just fine. You set up PS3MS to know which folders you want the PS3 to be able to access. We've used it for TV shows, movies, vacation pictures, and mp3's on the living room TV. Can do picture slideshows and shit at the same time as playing mp3's, which is fun.
"Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid."
The WD device allows for external HD devices, as well as it has a 1TB internal built in. Was considering that for our kitchen TV. Had planned on putting movies on it (of course) and taking it up north with us as well. But, wanted a disk player as well, so ended up with a BD player that supports streaming.
For something really portable, you'll need a device that has HDMI output and can handle a USB device plugged into it. And of course be something you can easily schlep around. I don't know that someone has made such a thing for specifically this purpose, but if it's important enough to you to spend a little cash and do some setup, there are options.
Just this week I was looking at the fit-PC2, which is basically a tiny computer with DVI Digital output through an HDMI port. I'm not sure if that will work with actual HDMI or not, though, nor do I know if it would be easy to convert. I haven't figured that part out yet but maybe someone here can say. But it'd be hella portable, and all you'd need to do is slap on some media center software and plug in your external and you'd be good to go just about anywhere.
Just this week I was looking at the fit-PC2, which is basically a tiny computer with DVI Digital output through an HDMI port. I'm not sure if that will work with actual HDMI or not, though, nor do I know if it would be easy to convert. I haven't figured that part out yet but maybe someone here can say. But it'd be hella portable, and all you'd need to do is slap on some media center software and plug in your external and you'd be good to go just about anywhere.
"ATTENTION: Customers browsing porn must hold magazines with both hands at all times!"
WSGrundy wrote:So how about this AUSU device? Is it missing anything you were consider essential?
As is a 5200 rpm external HD going to be fast enough so there aren't interruptions and buffering? Is USB going to be an issue with speed wise?
It isn't gigabit LAN, but that probably wouldn't be a hindrance.
I've never heard of the brand, but its description seems to cover everything (except playing bluray disks) and it has 4 stars out of 183 reviews. and it is $50 cheaper than anything else I have seen.
Not sure about your HDD speed. 5200 is obviously slow, but I don't know that it is too slow.
edit - Oh, you meant ASUS. Yes, I would consider them a brand name. Have had good experience with ASUS in the past, including customer service calls.
Edited By GORDON on 1299875590
"Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid."
Yeah ASUS, typed a bit too fast.GORDON wrote:It isn't gigabit LAN, but that probably wouldn't be a hindrance.WSGrundy wrote:So how about this AUSU device? Is it missing anything you were consider essential?
As is a 5200 rpm external HD going to be fast enough so there aren't interruptions and buffering? Is USB going to be an issue with speed wise?
I've never heard of the brand, but its description seems to cover everything (except playing bluray disks) and it has 4 stars out of 183 reviews. and it is $50 cheaper than anything else I have seen.
Not sure about your HDD speed. 5200 is obviously slow, but I don't know that it is too slow.
edit - Oh, you meant ASUS. Yes, I would consider them a brand name. Have had good experience with ASUS in the past, including customer service calls.