For years I've been digital only - totally missed the blu ray release era, still have a few hundred DVDs in a box in the garage worth very little. Anyway in the last 4 years I've upgraded from a PS3 with external 320GB to a WDTV with 500GB, then 1TB and then 2TB. Flirted with a HP Microstation but hated the size, noise and windows.
Now I've just picked up a Mac mini refurb 2012 base model and sorting through my collection thought to just use iTunes as the complete hub under the TV with x2TB portable drives, controlled via numerous devices, streaming to and from it. In the household is:
iPad 4 128GB
IPhone 4 32GB
iPhone 4S 64GB
Galaxy Note 2 16 + 64GB
iPad Mini 16GB
The amount of work involved is vast. Is it worth the time and effort converting the 1TB I have of TV shows in avi and mkv to MP4/M4V?
Or should I just forget the whole setup and migrate over to streaming packages such as Amazon, Netflix and LoveFilm - upto trying spotify I was a staunch iTunes music collector (110GB) however Spotify has made me try all manner of music and reevaluate if I need to keep so much media in my direct control or just treat it as consumable.
Financially the cost of the mini, plus hard drives, plus the extra I spend on the top capacity device models would allow me to have 6-7 years of streaming from the above services.
Now I've just picked up a Mac mini refurb 2012 base model and sorting through my collection thought to just use iTunes as the complete hub under the TV with x2TB portable drives, controlled via numerous devices, streaming to and from it. In the household is:
iPad 4 128GB
IPhone 4 32GB
iPhone 4S 64GB
Galaxy Note 2 16 + 64GB
iPad Mini 16GB
The amount of work involved is vast. Is it worth the time and effort converting the 1TB I have of TV shows in avi and mkv to MP4/M4V?
Or should I just forget the whole setup and migrate over to streaming packages such as Amazon, Netflix and LoveFilm - upto trying spotify I was a staunch iTunes music collector (110GB) however Spotify has made me try all manner of music and reevaluate if I need to keep so much media in my direct control or just treat it as consumable.
Financially the cost of the mini, plus hard drives, plus the extra I spend on the top capacity device models would allow me to have 6-7 years of streaming from the above services.
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