Last weekend, I bought a 1.5 terabyte external hard drive. I have an extensive VHS collection. For about five years now I have been systematically transferring the VHS tapes to DVDR on my computer. However, I am now considering transferring the tapes to MPEG and saving them on the drive. I see some great benefits to doing this.

- less physical storage space. The drive is smaller than my 520 disc binders.

- the format war. Blu-ray burning is an option now. Who knows how much longer DVDR burning is going to last. Assuming it tanks (to either blu-ray or some other format on the horizon), all my work transferring to DVDR would be a waste. Now, I could care less of the war's outcome.

- I can play the MPEG files on my computer, projector or TV so long as the device has a VGA connection.

- easier trading. I can email a video to someone if they have the ability to receive large files. I can also burn to DVDR if I have to since the files are DVDR compliant.

The only obvious downside to this method is the upfront cost. A 1.5 terabyte drive is around $125. I have books of around 520 discs, and I figure about half (somewhere in the ballpark of 260ish) can fit on a 1.5 terabyte drive.

Considering a spindle of 50 discs can be had for around $20, and 250 discs would equal 5 spindles, the cost of media is roughly $100. Slightly less expensive, but the benefits of the hdd might be worth it.

Also, I would want to play it safe and buy another drive for backup purposes in case something happens to the first drive. That would require spending another $125 on a drive simply for backup purposes.

I don't know what to make of it. What do you guys think?

Last weekend, I bought a 1.5 terabyte external hard drive. I have an extensive VHS collection. For about five years now I have been systematically transferring the VHS tapes to DVDR on my computer. However, I am now considering transferring the tapes to MPEG and saving them on the drive. I see some great benefits to doing this.

- less physical storage space. The drive is smaller than my 520 disc binders.

- the format war. Blu-ray burning is an option now. Who knows how much longer DVDR burning is going to last. Assuming it tanks (to either blu-ray or some other format on the horizon), all my work transferring to DVDR would be a waste. Now, I could care less of the war's outcome.

- I can play the MPEG files on my computer, projector or TV so long as the device has a VGA connection.

- easier trading. I can email a video to someone if they have the ability to receive large files. I can also burn to DVDR if I have to since the files are DVDR compliant.

The only obvious downside to this method is the upfront cost. A 1.5 terabyte drive is around $125. I have books of around 520 discs, and I figure about half (somewhere in the ballpark of 260ish) can fit on a 1.5 terabyte drive.

Considering a spindle of 50 discs can be had for around $20, and 250 discs would equal 5 spindles, the cost of media is roughly $100. Slightly less expensive, but the benefits of the hdd might be worth it.

Also, I would want to play it safe and buy another drive for backup purposes in case something happens to the first drive. That would require spending another $125 on a drive simply for backup purposes.

I don't know what to make of it. What do you guys think?

well how many vhs tapes do you have for a start and can I help you here

well how many vhs tapes do you have for a start and can I help you here

Probably around 700 tapes. I don't really need help, I just want to know if anyone else is transferring their collections to HDD.

Probably around 700 tapes. I don't really need help, I just want to know if anyone else is transferring their collections to HDD.

I have a friend who has setup something like you describe with a device called the "Popcorn Hour Media Tank"
http://www.popcornhour.com/onlinestore/index.php?pluginoption=catalog

He's basically built a server that currently holds 10, 1-TB hard drives and has transferred all his dvd'd to these HD's and streams all his tv stuff through this. He has room to add ten more drives before he completes it.

I'm going to get myself one of these just so I can play the thousands of computer files I've downloaded so I can play them on my TV. You can just as easily hookup as many hard drives as you want to this machine (no server necessary) and watch your files on TV.

It has a lot of other features as well, including home networking, ability to connect to the internet etc ...