Ok...
I'll get everyone some pix tomorrow.
As far as the movies... I currently have about 80 movies on my server. We have a ways to go before our entire collection is there. And honestly.. We'll end up get'n rid of most of the DVDs instead of ripping them. Just don't seem to watch many of them that often.
A feature length movie can be cut down to about 700 to 800 meg ( 0.7 to 0.8 gig ) of space using DivX or Xvid (both forms of MPEG-4 ) encoding. You still get GREAT video and great quality sound ( including Dolby Digital Surround ).
I have 1.2 TB of storage on my primary server ( that's 1200 GIG ). So... I have enough space to rip all my movies.. but I've got a BUNCH of other stuff on there right now.. Need to do a spring cleaning on it.
The solution I use is this. I store movies on the Server. I have a network connection into my XboX which runs
XboX Media Center (XBMC). From the
XBMC interface, I can browse through all of my MP3's, DVD's, Pictures, etc. When I find what I want to watch/listen too, I select it, or queue it in a playlist. XBMC then streams the content across the network from the Server. You can also store Movies, Games, Music, etc.. On the XboX Harddrive. With the XboX hacked, you can upgrade the harddrive up to say... 300 Gig or so.. Maybe larger. It's been a while since I looked at that scene to see what capacity it supports now.
It works quite well, but like any other homebrew/beta software.. there are occasional bugs to contend with. But, me being the eternal beta tester ( a title given me by my wife )... I don't mind so much. I enjoy the tinkering and playing.
The cost of the video side of the system:
Used XboX: $60
XboX Mod Chip: $40
250 Gig HardDrive for Modified XboX: $70
So.. for $170+S/H or so.. You can have a full blown media center. Add an older PC with a few high capacity drives.. and some time to convert your existing DVD Collection... You'll be the envy of the whole campground!
The other less 'hacking' / more expensive way to do the same thing. Buy an XboX 360 and load a PC with Windows Media Center Edition or Vista Home Premium (which has the new version of Media Center). Load all your DVDs/Music on the Windows system and the XboX 360 will act as a remote agent for the Media Center. If you go this route, you can also add a TV Tuner card to the Windows PC and have it record shows for you, then pipe them via the XboX 360 to your home theater system.. ( Or, RV Theater system as the case may be ).
Just a few ideas..
LK