Large amount of DVD's how to store them?

[coolred]

Originally posted by: HardcoreRobot
compressing the data can defintely get them to the 5gb mark with marginal loss in quality, but we are still talking like $500 worth of just harddrives for the capacity you need

there are nice cabinets you can buy, this keeps them out of view...

Well I currently have about 200 GB worth of free space on the hard rives I have now, so that would take some of the sting out of it. Plus having an HTPC has other bonuses, that make it a little more worth it. And maybe I could just keep the ones I have now in the storage unit, and just put the extras and new ones on the HTPC.

Although I do admit, using binders is porbablly the cheapest easiest way to go. Just something about it turns me off, not sure why. It seems like a good idea.

 

[Injury]

so how is a 300 disc changer or HTPC going to be a valid storage solution? I mean, you don't throw the cases away, do you?

Do yourself a favor, scrape up 50-70 bucks, give yourself a couple hours and build yourself a simple shelf.

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/Injury/IMG_0217.jpg

Pre-built and store bought storage solutions don't account for the fact that not everyone has the same space in which to fit a shelf.

I had 4 feet of wall space, I could comfortably deal with a shelf 6 feet tall, and the biggest DVD shelf I could find was 40 inches wide, 5 feet tall, held 200 DVDs... already it wasn't enough for my collection of 230 and growing...

I've been buying DVDs for 5 years and the shelf I built is only half full. Chances are, I'll move and just trash the shelf long before I fill it up.

 

[coolred]

Thanks for your input, but I have already addresses your questions. A changer or HTPC won't solve my storage issue. But it will allow me to put the DVD's/cases in a box an put them somewhere out of the way like in a closet or under a bed or something. And I also said, if I do go with another storage unit, it will not be a bookshelf type unit. I don't want the DVD's out where they can be seen, since they sit in my living room. I prefer them to be hidden, I feel it makes the room nicer not having to look at 250 DVD's. I also would not want a home built shelf in my living room, as it woudl look out of place. I am not saying yours looks bad or anything, its actually quite nice looking, just would stand out like a sore thumb in my living room, although mayeb paiting would help, but like I said, I don't really want a shefl unit. Thanks for the info and pics though.

 

[archcommus]

I think we can all admit that putting them on an HTPC is the coolest route. You can access any of them at any time without any need to get off your couch. Pretty awesome. And if you back that up somewhere, too, you have one sweet archived collection.

But again, ESPECIALLY if you wanted to have two copies of everything, the amount of HDD space required is simply unpractical. DVD changers sound clunky and inefficient. I'd find another physical shelving unit to house your DVDs and cases.

 

[erikistired]

another idea... just buy a $20-30 high capacity CD/DVD binder to store the discs. you can put the cases in the closet, and have them alphabetical in the binder to find them easily

until you need to add a movie in the G section, then you have to move 200 discs 1 space forward to get them back into alphabetical order.

i've never liked the binder idea, it seems everytime i put my cds in a binder one of them gets scratched. not sure what the cost of recordable dvds are these days, but maybe make copies and keep the copies in binders? i think the changer is the best way to go personally, but i cut my collection of nearly 400 dvds down to about 50 or so.

 

[Blayze]

Originally posted by: Injury
so how is a 300 disc changer or HTPC going to be a valid storage solution? I mean, you don't throw the cases away, do you?

Do yourself a favor, scrape up 50-70 bucks, give yourself a couple hours and build yourself a simple shelf.

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/Injury/IMG_0217.jpg

Pre-built and store bought storage solutions don't account for the fact that not everyone has the same space in which to fit a shelf.

I had 4 feet of wall space, I could comfortably deal with a shelf 6 feet tall, and the biggest DVD shelf I could find was 40 inches wide, 5 feet tall, held 200 DVDs... already it wasn't enough for my collection of 230 and growing...

I've been buying DVDs for 5 years and the shelf I built is only half full. Chances are, I'll move and just trash the shelf long before I fill it up.

Nice shelf. :thumbsup: I wouldn't mind having a shelf like that, although I wouldn't need that much space... yet.

I would either buy or build another unit. The binder ideal would be ok, but it would be hard to keep everything in order.

 

[coolred]

Originally posted by: fisher

another idea... just buy a $20-30 high capacity CD/DVD binder to store the discs. you can put the cases in the closet, and have them alphabetical in the binder to find them easily

until you need to add a movie in the G section, then you have to move 200 discs 1 space forward to get them back into alphabetical order.

i've never liked the binder idea, it seems everytime i put my cds in a binder one of them gets scratched. not sure what the cost of recordable dvds are these days, but maybe make copies and keep the copies in binders? i think the changer is the best way to go personally, but i cut my collection of nearly 400 dvds down to about 50 or so.

Thats was it, I knew there was something I didn't like about the binder idea, I just couldn't put my finger on it. Its a little easier with a storage unit, since then you shouldn't have to move more then a couple, the rest you could just push over on the shelf or whatever. I don't know, the HTPC idea sounds really cool. I have wanted one for a long time. But as has been pointed out, the HDD space required would be expensive.


Hmmm, maybe I could take fisher's approach and try to at least get rid of 20-30 of som e of the older or less often watched movies. I could try to sell them, so then not only would I be needing less space, I would be earning money to put towards the HDD space.

And MythTV just sounds freakin cool. I installed knoppmyth on one of my other mahcines, just to play with it, don't actually have a tuner or anything in that rig, and it can do soem neat stuff.

 

[loup garou]

I'm in the same situation as you and have been debating my choices for several months now. I already have an MCE box with My Movies, which allows me to browse all my dvds by remote. I just need a way to actually store the media. My Movies supports mounting isos or vobs from folders, but like you I have 200+ DVDs, which means lots of storage is required. Right now I'm waiting on a killer deal for multiple drives. My other consideration was using several of these. The author of My Movies was working on incorporating Disk Stakka control into his app, but has hit a brick wall in development so I'm not holding my breath. Plus, they're pretty expensive.

 

[Pastore]

Make copies of all of them, store the copies in a binder, and put the originals away in a closet for safe keeping. Done and done.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

I've had very bad luck with CD changers. ultimatley,the CDs get scratched up inside one of these. Pioneer 50+1 CD changer BTW. Over time the CDs jsut got Fed.

And especially with movies, it's not like you need random play. You only watch one at a time so dvd changers are a waste of money/time and can end up damaging your discs.

HTPC = dumb.

Just get another storage unit.

 

[Caminetto]

I have a collection of about three hundred. I bought slim jewels for them, downloaded the covers and just copied, pasted & printed part of cover for an insert. I keep them stored in a wall rack alphabetically by category.
Takes very little space and no problem finding a good movie for the evening.

 

[Nebor]

Someone once made a post that they had one of those 300+ DVD holders in their apartment. Someone walked in one day, took just that, and left. -$6000.

 

[loup garou]

Originally posted by: IHateMyJob2004
HTPC = dumb.

Well sh1t, you've conviced me.
*throws HTPC out the window*

 

[tw1164]

Do you want to watch the dvds on more then one TV? Is so, go the route of the HTPC. I would sugggest the Nero mp4 route, the software is very quick and produces a small files.

 

[rsd]

I personally built a 1TB Raid 5 Media Server for my DVDs/media/music, that I access through a separate HTPC running Windows MCE 2k5. Works very very well. Holds about 170 dvds though.

The server wasn't too expensive. I got a relatively inexpensive pata raid 5 card (~$100), and got deals on regular ata 250gb drives (5 of them--about $100 each). This wouldn't be the cheapest solution for you in your case, but for me at least, this works fantastic.

 

[coolred]

Originally posted by: werk
I'm in the same situation as you and have been debating my choices for several months now. I already have an MCE box with My Movies, which allows me to browse all my dvds by remote. I just need a way to actually store the media. My Movies supports mounting isos or vobs from folders, but like you I have 200+ DVDs, which means lots of storage is required. Right now I'm waiting on a killer deal for multiple drives. My other consideration was using several of these. The author of My Movies was working on incorporating Disk Stakka control into his app, but has hit a brick wall in development so I'm not holding my breath. Plus, they're pretty expensive.

Interesting info there, I think that Stakka thing was in the last issue of maximum pc, and they said its neat, expensive, but its a pain in the butt to have to insert every CD/DVD into your computers drive, to catlog it into the software, then take it out and put it in that unit. Although they said, if they could simplify that process, that it would be a great unit, so hopefully they can figure something out.


Beast, the binder option is obviously the cheapest, but as has been stated earlier, its a pain to move around 100 DVDs just to add a new one.


Ihatemyjob2004, you do offer good points about the changer option, although you offer no insight into why you think the htpc is a dumb idea. Is it just because of the cost of the storage or is there something else. Cause to me, aside from the hard drive costs, its seems like an awesome option.


Caminetto, interesting option, that would provide approximately about double the storage without getting a new unit. How much do those cases cost though. I know I have bought some in the past, but don't recall the cost.

Nebor, that would suck. Although I think if someone would break into my apartment, they would likely take more then just my DVD's, they would be pretty stupid not to. Which reminds me, I really need to get some renters insurance. I have been getting quotes recently with my auto insurance, just haven't bought yet.

 

[coolred]

Originally posted by: werk

Originally posted by: IHateMyJob2004
HTPC = dumb.

Well sh1t, you've conviced me.
*throws HTPC out the window*

Agreed




tw1164, I hadn't even thought of that. Having a couple of HTPC's networked would be pretty neat, although mainly I think we would be watching them downstairs. And its not too hard to carry a DVD case upstairs. Not saying anythings wrong with that idea, I actually think is cool. But I know someone will come in here saying how it would be just as easy and cheaper to just carry the DVD to the other room.




rsd, good info, I will keep it in mind. I know the HTPC route is obviously the most costly, but it also offers the most benefits and ease of use(assuming use of the right software and that its correctly setup). Plus I could alwasy start out with just enough hard drive space to hold the movies that won't fit into my current unit, then as I get more money, add more hard drive space and eventually get rid fo the storage unit.

 

[0roo0roo]

just wait. 500gb is already here. soon it'll be cheap enough for feasible htpc. compressing dvd defeats the point of the quality of dvd average movie size is more like 7.5gb..including menus etc.

that being said buying dvds now is a waste with hd media aroud the corner.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally posted by: Injury
so how is a 300 disc changer or HTPC going to be a valid storage solution? I mean, you don't throw the cases away, do you?

Do yourself a favor, scrape up 50-70 bucks, give yourself a couple hours and build yourself a simple shelf.

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/Injury/IMG_0217.jpg

Pre-built and store bought storage solutions don't account for the fact that not everyone has the same space in which to fit a shelf.

I had 4 feet of wall space, I could comfortably deal with a shelf 6 feet tall, and the biggest DVD shelf I could find was 40 inches wide, 5 feet tall, held 200 DVDs... already it wasn't enough for my collection of 230 and growing...

I've been buying DVDs for 5 years and the shelf I built is only half full. Chances are, I'll move and just trash the shelf long before I fill it up.

Nice storage shelf. :thumbsup:
Any tips that you can share on building one?

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: OVERKILL

Nice storage shelf. :thumbsup:
Any tips that you can share on building one?

yeah i would like to know how you've secured the shelves to the sides. i'm going to build myself a shelf and i'd rather not have nails or screws on the sides... just want it completely smooth...

actually... maybe countersink the screws, then just fill the wholes with a little bondo or something similar, then paint over it... bet no one ever knows...

 

[0roo0roo]

can't u just use dowls to secure the shelves? like with prebuilt.. drill hole part way into each, stick inch of wooden dowl in and glue. that or u can have adjustable..with the shelves sitting on little pegs. i'm sure hardware stores sellt hose too. that being said an ikea shelf is like 99bux at very tall and big. and dummy proof.

 

[Chrono]

lies. admit you pirated them in the first place.

 

[imported_xaguynamedguyx]

burn them...a couple logs and a fire starter should work

 

[coolred]

Well I started tinkering with ripping a few DVD's to the computer to see what they look like. I was using nero digital which uses the H.264 codec. I tried my first one at 2.5GB total and it looked bad. I went up to 3.5 for the next and it looked okay, the color was a little off from the actual DVD, but it didn't have any noticeable artifacts or anything, at least not that I could tell. Unfortunately unless I did something wrong, it doesn't appear as though the menus are actually useful. Like the title menu, it doesn't allow you to click play or scene selection or extras or whatever. That kinda defeats the point, what do I need a menu for if I can't use it.

So unless I can fix that issue, I may just rip the movie itself, maybe the extras is its stuff I really want, set the maximum size at 4-5 GB's and see how those go.

And if all else fails, I guess I will just get more storage, but I still think I may be using my extra computer for an HTPC.

 

[Quasmo]

I keep all my DVDs in 3 binders... I have over 470 DVDs. (One binder for TV Shows) (Two binders for movies) What I do is keep them in alphabetical order, but only by the first letter (A's go together but not nesicarily in alphabetical order, does that make sense). I leave a few spaces between letters so when I get a new disc I dont have to move everything around and the max I'll have to move is 12 DVDs and thats only when the case is completely full.