Need some advice:

[evolve]

Ok. So I have this 61" Samsung TV and it can connect to a computer. I was thinking of getting a Mini Mac and Just putting Music, and Movies on the mac. My plan is to be able to decide on a movie and just play it from the Mini Mac.

1) What Mini Mac should I go with?
2) What program will allow me to copy a DVD onto the Mac?
3) Should I just get a 200 disc DVD player and go from there?

 

[D3v1L80Y]

Option 3 is the best.

 

[mynameis]

2) What program will allow me to copy a DVD onto the Mac?

Thats illegal under the DMCA.

 

[evolve]

Thats illegal under the DMCA.

Oh I thought it was only applied for re-selling. Nevermind then. It looks like ill be using option 3

 

[mynameis]

Oh I thought it was only applied for re-selling. Nevermind then. It looks like ill be using option 3

Nope, in order to get the DVD movie onto your hard drive you would have to circumvent the copy protection, which is illegal.

 

[dohidied]

Handbrake will let you rip a DVD onto your hard drive.

http://handbrake.m0k.org/

The MPAA can tickle me hot pink with delight if they think I'm a criminal for ripping a dvd that I legally purchased for personal use.

 

[Pierre]

Handbrake will let you rip a DVD onto your hard drive.

http://handbrake.m0k.org/

The MPAA can tickle me hot pink with delight if they think I'm a criminal for ripping a dvd that I legally purchased for personal use.

Amen. I back up my music and DVDs, I don't redistribute them.

 

[baggss]

Agreed. Under the "fair use" clause of the DCMA, copying or backing up DVDs you own is not illegal, as long as you don't redistribute them. Not a lot of DVDs have Mac compatible security on them, if any at all. Handbrake seems to be the best all in one option for the Mac.

 

[coach_z]

the mini might have a difficult time displaying on a 'monitor' that large. i say go for a regular dvd player and switch your disks, otherwise your going to have to catalog all your dvd's so you can find them inside the changer etc....more of a PITA IMHO

re. copy protection, you are allowed one backup of all of your legally purchased media that you own

-chris

 

[evolve]

the mini might have a difficult time displaying on a 'monitor' that large. i say go for a regular dvd player and switch your disks, otherwise your going to have to catalog all your dvd's so you can find them inside the changer etc....more of a PITA IMHO

re. copy protection, you are allowed one backup of all of your legally purchased media that you own

-chris

Mmmm. good point I never thought of that. I wonder though what system WOULD be able to hook up to my TV?

 

[Aptmunich]

Originally Posted by coach_z
the mini might have a difficult time displaying on a 'monitor' that large. i say go for a regular dvd player and switch your disks, otherwise your going to have to catalog all your dvd's so you can find them inside the changer etc....more of a PITA IMHO

No the mini won't...

The question is not so much how "large" the TV is, but what resolution it runs at.

Some LCD or Plasma TV's have a max. resolution of 1920x1080 (1080p), most have quite a bit lower (1280x720)...

Since the mini can definitely output a 1080p resolution, (23" apple cinema HD display) it should hook up to your TV fine.

Assuming you're ripping movies without copy protection, I'd get the mac mini core duo with an additional external harddrive (maxmini or something else specifically for the mini) and go the handbrake route.

That way you can also access music, photos and the web through the same system...

 

[Logan]

Yeah comparing costs a mac mini route would require an external HDD definitely, resolution POTENTIALLY is an issue, and honestly you're probably going to pay more in the end for the mac mini than a 200 DVD changer. (I doubt it'll cost you ~800+ for that DVD player/changer).