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Ask HN: Thinking of dumping my DVD collection

I've been collecting DVDs for a very long time. Ever since the format came out. Looking at my collection? It looks like it's gotten out of hand. Two entire walls of my living room. But I hate to go to NetFlix or some other abysmal streaming service. ] So here's the thing: Is there a program like Calibre, only for my movies? A service where I can put all of my DVDs and BluRays, stick them on the cloud, and watch them wherever I am? ADD: Including keeping all the extra stuff if possible

leoruilova 10y ago
Maybe Kodi http://kodi.tv/ http://kodi.tv/
corysama 10y ago
You would be better off ripping everything to files and ditching the discs, but I'll point out that ditching just the DVD cases and packing the discs into DVD binders will collapse the storage requirements by 10-20x. I did that a while back and have been quite happy with it. Just be ready to cut out some case labels for discs that don't label themselves well.
- DanielBMarkham 10y ago
  Yep. I love all the extra physical things with the DVDs, like hats, posters, and other trivia. But I think if I'm going to start ditching that stuff, might as well finish it. I already know how to get the movies out. I'm just going to miss the extra videos, like the commentary, gag reel, and so forth. At the rate my wall is filling up, maybe not so much. I was hoping there was some way to keep them all together. Perhaps there's a way to rip an entire DVD/Blu-Ray to something like an ISO? I hate that being so compartmentalized, but at least it would let me destroy all this glass and plastic I have taking up my house.
  - corysama 10y ago
    It's definitely possible to copy DVDs to ISOs. It'll be full of MPEG2, so 10x the size of a modern codec. But, it should be completely lossless both in terms of image quality and bonus content. I haven't investigated this lately, so I can't make software recommendations.
    - DanielBMarkham 10y ago
      Yep, I understand the process. So Blu-Rays too? Note: I am NOT asking for cracking information, simply asking how an honest owner can archive a crap-ton of physical discs in a way that doesn't involve sunsetting DRM.

leoruilova 10y ago

Maybe Kodi http://kodi.tv/ http://kodi.tv/

corysama 10y ago

You would be better off ripping everything to files and ditching the discs, but I'll point out that ditching just the DVD cases and packing the discs into DVD binders will collapse the storage requirements by 10-20x. I did that a while back and have been quite happy with it. Just be ready to cut out some case labels for discs that don't label themselves well.

DanielBMarkham 10y ago
Yep. I love all the extra physical things with the DVDs, like hats, posters, and other trivia. But I think if I'm going to start ditching that stuff, might as well finish it. I already know how to get the movies out. I'm just going to miss the extra videos, like the commentary, gag reel, and so forth. At the rate my wall is filling up, maybe not so much. I was hoping there was some way to keep them all together. Perhaps there's a way to rip an entire DVD/Blu-Ray to something like an ISO? I hate that being so compartmentalized, but at least it would let me destroy all this glass and plastic I have taking up my house.
- corysama 10y ago
  It's definitely possible to copy DVDs to ISOs. It'll be full of MPEG2, so 10x the size of a modern codec. But, it should be completely lossless both in terms of image quality and bonus content. I haven't investigated this lately, so I can't make software recommendations.
  - DanielBMarkham 10y ago
    Yep, I understand the process. So Blu-Rays too? Note: I am NOT asking for cracking information, simply asking how an honest owner can archive a crap-ton of physical discs in a way that doesn't involve sunsetting DRM.