RE: Basic questions about "video streaming"

["Nigel Giddings" <nigel@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Neil,

=20

There have already been several good answers to your post and I don't want
=
to confuse the position, but...

=20

Some of this depends on your $$$ position... I have achieved a solution
tha=
t works for me that is, I think, quite low cost, but having said that
requi=
res a little more fiddling...

=20

My 'content' is on a 2TB Buffalo Terrastation, expensive at the time but
ju=
stified by other factors. Any storage would do on any Windows based
machine=
sharing the directory across the network. 1TB external USB drives at less =
than =A3100 are obviously good value, in fact I now have a 1Tb Western
Digi=
tal USB plugged into the 2TB Terrastation as well...

=20

For play back I have two routes:

=20

1: VLC (free download) which runs on all my Windows PCs (both Vista and
XP)=
including my Cinema PC. This software plays most formats (more than any ot=
her single piece of software). I think the results are stunning, it all
dep=
ends on the way the content is ripped (how much compression), I'm
constantl=
y blown away by how good a 'compressed' file can be on a 100" screen.
The P=
C performs the up-scaling and is very adequate for my tastes / budget. I
am=
sure things could be better but I think my Home Cinema gives great results=
for =A31K...=20

=20

2. XBMC (circa =A335 for XBOX and free Soft Mod(Cost of Splinter Cell game
=
to enable exploit)). XBMC plays almost as many formats as VLC... Plugs
stra=
ight into TV and with the DVD remote you have TV like control of
browsing..=
. There are lots of other things you can do as well beyond watching
films..=
. It will even stream over a WiFi link but I would of course cable when
eve=
r possible...

=20

Hope this has been of some help and that I haven't offended anyone by
sugge=
sting a 'budget' route.

=20

Nigel

=20

=20

-----Original Message-----
From: ukha_d@xxxxxxx [mailto:ukha_d@xxxxxxx] On Behalf Of N=
eil Fuller
Sent: 10 April 2009 23:23
To: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
Subject: [ukha_d] Basic questions about "video streaming"

=20






Right, I've had enough!!!

The kids have put the DVDs back in the wrong cases, when they bother to=20
do so!

I've got several trashed discs from being chucked "bare" in to
the=20
cupboard, and worst of all, they start having tantrums when they can't=20
find the DVD they "misfiled"!!

So, I want to start ripping DVDs and streaming them, keeping the=20
original discs safe and away from jam!

I know this is pretty basic stuff for many here but having googled, I'm=20
confused.

There seems to be a plethora of ripping and streaming software out there=20
so I thought I'd turn to the collective authority of UKHA for your=20
thoughts. . .

1. There's lots of file formats out there - Which is best (I need
"basic quality" rather than hi-def)
2. What's the best ripping software?
3. What's the best way to playback the ripped discs - Dedicated
"hardware" box (Xbox, PSP3 or purpose designed "box")
or windows
PC (I know nothing about Linux so please don't point me in that
direction) and suitable video card/application?
4. On average, how big (in GB) is an average ripped DVD? I've got
about 1TB spare on my NAS so how many DVDs will it hold?

At the moment, I don't need to stream to multiple places - Just to the=20
living room TV

Any other pointers that I've missed?

TIA

Neil





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