Do I need a NAS drive?
Discussion
I am moving abroad for a year and so would like to access my DVD collection remotly. A quick google on the subject and it would seem if I bought a NAS hard drive I could transfer all my DVD collection onto the drive, connect it to my netgear router via Ethernet cable, and then access the collection from my iMac from my remote location?
Just a couple of questions, given the slow upload speed at home( I think it's 250k, could be completly wrong though!) how long would it take to load a 2hr film?
Can I buy something that can also plug into my amplifier at home that can also connect to the nas so I don't need to physicaly use the DVDs at all?
Is there a better device/ system that can do this?
Thanks
Just a couple of questions, given the slow upload speed at home( I think it's 250k, could be completly wrong though!) how long would it take to load a 2hr film?
Can I buy something that can also plug into my amplifier at home that can also connect to the nas so I don't need to physicaly use the DVDs at all?
Is there a better device/ system that can do this?
Thanks
It will agonisingly slow. You would be better putting your DVD's onto a small portable HDD and taking them with you. A movie uncompressed is about 4-5gb or you can compress it down using handbrake or similar to about 700mb-1gb. I have a 500gb drive that fits in the palm of my hand.
Warning - it takes a long time to rip a dvd. One to two hours each.
Warning - it takes a long time to rip a dvd. One to two hours each.
satans worm said:
Can I buy something that can also plug into my amplifier at home that can also connect to the nas so I don't need to physicaly use the DVDs at all?
Not sure what you mean here? Do you wan to be able to use the ripped DVD's at home? There are plenty of tools and applications to do this, you just need a media player (a PS3, a popcorn hour or htpc) are typical. These will all connect to your storage drive and stream the media direct to the TV. You would also need to run a server application like PS3mediaserver, xbmc or yamj to access the films.Sorry for the late response, forgot I started this one 
yes , bring the harddrive with me, an obvious solution!
Re the later part of the request, yes, I think you have the idea, use the ripped DVD on the hard drive to view on the hone tv. I have a ps3 but it's in the 'boys room' so perhaps a more dedicated solution is needed, I will google that popcorn hour thing later.
Not sure I got what u meant re having a server to host it or something?? (note I'm writting on the iPhone so not easy to nip back and look at your quote for exact terminology you used)
finaly, any reccomendations on the harddrive? Cheap is good but rarely does it makes sense to buy, are hard drives exceptions?
And 1-2 hours to rip, really!! Even with a quad core iMac? Looks like I'm going to have to prioritise my DVDs as I have over 200!!
yes , bring the harddrive with me, an obvious solution!
Re the later part of the request, yes, I think you have the idea, use the ripped DVD on the hard drive to view on the hone tv. I have a ps3 but it's in the 'boys room' so perhaps a more dedicated solution is needed, I will google that popcorn hour thing later.
Not sure I got what u meant re having a server to host it or something?? (note I'm writting on the iPhone so not easy to nip back and look at your quote for exact terminology you used)
finaly, any reccomendations on the harddrive? Cheap is good but rarely does it makes sense to buy, are hard drives exceptions?
And 1-2 hours to rip, really!! Even with a quad core iMac? Looks like I'm going to have to prioritise my DVDs as I have over 200!!
OK, just done a bit of googling on popcorn hour, didn't entirely understand it, the web site seemed more intent on confusing with techy words than clearly explaining with a nice flow diagram how it exactly all worked, anyway, i think i got the jist.
Anyway, looking at alternatives, would Apple TV work?
This was what i was thinking (in my innocent naivaty ) ....
If i connected an external (non nas) hard drive to my imac with all my dvd's on, then bought Apple TV connected to my TV/amp, i should be able to use my iphone as a remote to wirelessly stream and watch any of my ripped movies from the external hard drive to my tv, without having to touch the iMac?
Or am i just dreaming and got it all wrong
Anyway, looking at alternatives, would Apple TV work?
This was what i was thinking (in my innocent naivaty ) ....
If i connected an external (non nas) hard drive to my imac with all my dvd's on, then bought Apple TV connected to my TV/amp, i should be able to use my iphone as a remote to wirelessly stream and watch any of my ripped movies from the external hard drive to my tv, without having to touch the iMac?
Or am i just dreaming and got it all wrong
I don't know anything about AppleTV, sorry. I'm a PC guy.
You need
1) Somewhere to store your Films.
A single HDD can be internal/external and could store lots of movies. You could use a seperate box, a NAS (network attached Storage) that may contain a single drive or multiple drives in a RAID array (worry about that later). Each has its positives and negatives.
2) Something to playback the files on the TV.
A media player a PS3 is a good example but there are others including the Popcorn hour or a HTPC (home theatre PC) I've heard of people using a MiniMac. There are also other dedicated media players out there.
3) Some way of getting the Films from the storage to the player.
I have a NAS/media server in my office. Essentially a PC with loads of HDD in it. Mine is running windows but there are Linux versions available or a stand alone unit. On my Media server is an application called Twonky, this is what is called a DLNA server. When I switch on the PS3 it can see the DLNA server over the wireless network and in the PS3 menus under video, an option called Twonky appears. If I select that then I can see the folder structure of films I have made on the server and so by going Movies - Sci-Fi I could then select StarWars which will then playback over wireless to the PS3 and my TV.
I control the PS3 via my remote.
For me, this works. I have my files safe in a RAID Array and can access them from any location in the house. You could have the HDD attached directly to the player but then they might not be available elsewhere (but that might not matter).
Popcorn hour is basically a media player that can have its own storage added.
You need
1) Somewhere to store your Films.
A single HDD can be internal/external and could store lots of movies. You could use a seperate box, a NAS (network attached Storage) that may contain a single drive or multiple drives in a RAID array (worry about that later). Each has its positives and negatives.
2) Something to playback the files on the TV.
A media player a PS3 is a good example but there are others including the Popcorn hour or a HTPC (home theatre PC) I've heard of people using a MiniMac. There are also other dedicated media players out there.
3) Some way of getting the Films from the storage to the player.
I have a NAS/media server in my office. Essentially a PC with loads of HDD in it. Mine is running windows but there are Linux versions available or a stand alone unit. On my Media server is an application called Twonky, this is what is called a DLNA server. When I switch on the PS3 it can see the DLNA server over the wireless network and in the PS3 menus under video, an option called Twonky appears. If I select that then I can see the folder structure of films I have made on the server and so by going Movies - Sci-Fi I could then select StarWars which will then playback over wireless to the PS3 and my TV.
I control the PS3 via my remote.
For me, this works. I have my files safe in a RAID Array and can access them from any location in the house. You could have the HDD attached directly to the player but then they might not be available elsewhere (but that might not matter).
Popcorn hour is basically a media player that can have its own storage added.
Gassing Station | Home Cinema & Hi-Fi | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff