I am in the process of using Handbrake to rip a collection of about 1,000 DVDs and adding them to my iTunes library. I stream iTunes from a 2.8-GHz Quad-Core i5 iMac via Ethernet to two first-generation Apple TVs. I am using the Apple TV presets in Handbrake.
I would appreciate any advice on a couple of questions.
1) Are there any significant advantages to me replacing my first-generation Apple TVs with second-generation Apple TVs? I use the Apple TVs primarily for streaming from iTunes and very rarely purchase anything from the iTunes store, so the lower pricing for rentals does not really matter to me. Also, I have a Samsung Blu-Ray player for streaming Netflix. Would I get noticeably better picture quality using a second-generation Apple TV and the Apple TV 2 presets in Handbrake? I have read on the threads here that the second-generation Apple TVs have superior playback, but will it make much difference since all the DVDs are standard definition anyway? The picture quality of what I ripped thus far generally looks fine, but maybe I am missing something better. Also, my whole-home distribution system uses component video over Cat-5e, so I would have to buy HDMI-to-component adapters to hook up the second-generation Apple TVs. Would it be worth it?
2) The iMac's 1-TB hard drive will clearly not hold 1,000 DVDs worth of content, so I am considering buying an external 3-TB or 4-TB hard drive to hold my iTunes library. Should I try to get FireWire if possible, or will USB be fast enough? I have read on the threads here that many posters use a dedicated Mac Mini to stream iTunes content. I leave my iMac on all the time anyway, and it is very fast, but will it be fast enough to do the job pulling content from the external hard drive and streaming it to the Apple TVs? I also intend to buy a second large external drive as a back up using Time Machine. It would suck to have to re-rip all the content if the external hard drive with iTunes library crashed. Are there any other other precautions I should take?
Sorry for the long post. Thanks in advance for your replies.
I would appreciate any advice on a couple of questions.
1) Are there any significant advantages to me replacing my first-generation Apple TVs with second-generation Apple TVs? I use the Apple TVs primarily for streaming from iTunes and very rarely purchase anything from the iTunes store, so the lower pricing for rentals does not really matter to me. Also, I have a Samsung Blu-Ray player for streaming Netflix. Would I get noticeably better picture quality using a second-generation Apple TV and the Apple TV 2 presets in Handbrake? I have read on the threads here that the second-generation Apple TVs have superior playback, but will it make much difference since all the DVDs are standard definition anyway? The picture quality of what I ripped thus far generally looks fine, but maybe I am missing something better. Also, my whole-home distribution system uses component video over Cat-5e, so I would have to buy HDMI-to-component adapters to hook up the second-generation Apple TVs. Would it be worth it?
2) The iMac's 1-TB hard drive will clearly not hold 1,000 DVDs worth of content, so I am considering buying an external 3-TB or 4-TB hard drive to hold my iTunes library. Should I try to get FireWire if possible, or will USB be fast enough? I have read on the threads here that many posters use a dedicated Mac Mini to stream iTunes content. I leave my iMac on all the time anyway, and it is very fast, but will it be fast enough to do the job pulling content from the external hard drive and streaming it to the Apple TVs? I also intend to buy a second large external drive as a back up using Time Machine. It would suck to have to re-rip all the content if the external hard drive with iTunes library crashed. Are there any other other precautions I should take?
Sorry for the long post. Thanks in advance for your replies.