150 DVD's need to store on one device for playback (Not a PC)

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myopinion

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Ultimate Geek

#111794 15-Nov-2012 09:25

I have a mate who has made a collection of around 150 music DVD's. Some of them over 10 years old are starting to fail and he has started making new copies. However what he would like to do is put them all onto one portable device so that he can play them anywhere, home, bach etc. Can anyone recommend a DVD recorder that can hold 150 DVD's and play them back to his TV? It would require at least a 1TB drive? Is this the best solution?

Cheers, Nick.

freitasm

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#717497 15-Nov-2012 09:28

First, to clarify, regardless of the feelings, current New Zealand copyright law allows format shiftting of audio CDs only. It's not legal to format shift video discs.

With this out of the way, the best option is a NAS device with a couple of large drives (2x 2TB for example) for redundancy.

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myopinion

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Ultimate Geek

#717499 15-Nov-2012 09:30

Does that law apply to DVD's that he's made himself, via recording from TV?

He would like a device that would plug directly into a TV via HDMI or component and playback. Can a NAS do that? Also he needs an easy way to get those DVD's onto the device.

freitasm

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#717502 15-Nov-2012 09:36

myopinion: Does that law apply to DVD's that he's made himself, via recording from TV?

If he recorded from a TV show then your friend is only allowed to keep it for a reasonable time to watch it, not forever.

myopinion: He would like a device that would plug directly into a TV via HDMI or component and playback. Can a NAS do that? Also he needs an easy way to get those DVD's onto the device.

There are devices around that you plug to your network and to your TV. These will read from the NAS. There other devices that you can plug a USB drive instead. Look at the NETGEAR NeoTV for example.

Having the NAS plus the device is good because then you can access your files from any other PC in the house.

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tchart

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#717505 15-Nov-2012 09:40

Not sure about what device to use but I use AnyDVD to rip ISO images of DVD's - kids and DVD's don't get along well.

If you cant work with ISO's, VOB2MPG Pro makes perfect MPEG backups (doesn't recompress or anything). My TV, DVD, Blu-Ray etc can play these MPEGS nicely (usually around 4-6GB each)

surfisup1000

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#717506 15-Nov-2012 09:42

myopinion: I have a mate who has made a collection of around 150 music DVD's. Some of them over 10 years old are starting to fail and he has started making new copies. However what he would like to do is put them all onto one portable device so that he can play them anywhere, home, bach etc. Can anyone recommend a DVD recorder that can hold 150 DVD's and play them back to his TV? It would require at least a 1TB drive? Is this the best solution?

Cheers, Nick.

This is the perfect portable solution...

http://www.popcornhour.com/onlinestore/index.php?pluginoption=catalog&mainItemId=45

Your friend could convert the dvd's to individual MPG's --- then, you have access to all the music from all 150dvd's in a single folder.

(ps, I have the older a-210 and it is brilliant, the a-300 is a little faster).

surfisup1000

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#717509 15-Nov-2012 09:44

freitasm:
Having the NAS plus the device is good because then you can access your files from any other PC in the house.

But, a NAS is hardly portable. Which is what he wanted.

freitasm

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#717511 15-Nov-2012 09:45

Just remember, most of the cheap Popcorn Hour devices on Trade Me are Chinese copycats.

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JimmyH

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#718419 16-Nov-2012 18:33

Rip the DVDs onto a USB drive (a small USB-powered portable one if you want). If they are off a DVD recorder, which seems to be the case, then DVD Decrypter is free and should work fine. If they are single layer disks, which I assume they are, they will all easily fit on a 1TB drive without any compression. Buy a good cheap media player (a Western Digital Live is circa $100 retail). Connect WD Live to TV, plug drive into WD Live, job done. <br><br>As to the legal angle, freitasm is correct. The situation is pretty much the same as it was transferring a music CD to an ipod before the law was changed recently, and of taping music off the radio in the olden days, and technically illegal unless you fit into an exemption. As always, if you are worried about the legal angle, seek professional advice.

myopinion

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Ultimate Geek

#719272 19-Nov-2012 08:34

Thanks guys I like the WD + USB drive idea.

gehenna

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#719273 19-Nov-2012 08:40

I'd go with the format shift + media player option. Probably shift them to MP4 format so you have max compression/quality and good compatibility with devices. Then grab some storage, and a WDTV device for around $80-$100 I think - doesn't have to be the Live player if he just wants to play off a local drive - the WDTV HD is plenty fine for that....if you can still get it.