Hi I'm new to the forum, and would like to ask if anyone has had success watching ripped DVD's over a Mac ntework ? I've got a home server, and want to Rip all my DVD's to it (with MacTheRipper) and then be able to view them on other Macs on the network. The network is a Gigabit one, but unfortunately the server is only 100mbs - will this be too slow, or create syncing issues ? Also, if I had a G5 imac connected to my Plasma screen could I watch the movie over the network, on the plasma ? Taking the 5.1 audio out of the Imac port into my amp? I suspect all of this will create issues with audio/video sync etc but it would be great if it would work ! Thanks for any thoughts. Tonse
ok... seems like you can do this.. here are my suggestions on this one... seems feasible.. where would you have the movies stored? what you can do is get a network hard drive.. and run it thru that... i'm not too sure what the transfer and syncing speeds you would have... to get the image onto the plasma, you can get the "mini-vga" adapter to whatever the connection on the plasma... then it would just mirror the image onto your plasma. mini vga to vga http://www.macmall.com/macmall/shop/detail~dpno~285976.asp this one will plug right into the tv. mini vga to vga http://www.macmall.com/macmall/shop/detail~dpno~965336.asp with this one... you need to still get the reguar vga to vga cable. here are some of the hard drives i was talking about. 250gb http://www.macmall.com/macmall/shop/detail~dpno~192801.asp 400gb version http://www.macmall.com/macmall/shop/detail~dpno~192802.asp as you can tell... i like LaCie... they do tend to work pretty well.. never had any issue from my customers on these... you can just always check their site out. http://www.lacie.com hope that helps..
Thanks thelox. I've got three of the lacie ethernet discs in the server rack (1TB of space) and that is where I would like to hold the ripped DVD files. I'm wondering whether the 100mbs transfer raate will be fast enough, and whether there may be lip sync issues due to the networ transfer ? Also, does Mac The Ripper retain the 5.1 soundtrack, and if so will a G5 imac recognise it and output it to the amp ? Thanks again Tonse
i'm not exactly sure if MTR does the 5.1 sound... even if it does.. it may depend on how you connect the audio to the plasma... im guessing you'll be using the headphone jack.. it will also depend on the way the system is set up.. the speakers anyways.. if you're doing the headphone to rca cables... it should at least have the right and left... i know logitech has an adapter for it.. but i'm not sure if you can use them with anything other than logitech speakers.. may wanna call them http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/products/details/US/EN,CRID=2177,CONTENTID=10036 on the 100mbs transfer... i'm not exactly sure... may wanna check with lacie.. http://www.lacie.com make a few calls... but u are on the right track with that 1tb of hd... and i do love LaCie.
HUGE UPDATE!! i went to Best Buy today.. and i picked this software up for $5!! it claimed to let you watch your movies and use your computer as a server. i didnt believe it... you do need a PS2 with a network adapter. it comes with two cds.. one with software for your computer, and one cd for your ps2. you hook it up with a router and some ethernet cables.. i figured it was BS.. but i've got it hooked up and its working perfectly! the only catch is.. you cant watch your "Video_TS" folders.. i'm watching an AVI. the quality is ok... but of course that depends on the quality of the clip.. you just add it to the playlist.. here are some links i found on it.. http://www.dreamstation.cc/news/video_games/id1217 here it is in ebay... check to see if your local store has it.. i got mine for $5. http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Gameshark-M...ryZ73839QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem i found some sites and they stated that this has been out for quiet a while. but hey.. its news to me.. the transfer rate is nice.. its pretty dang smooth.. now its just to transfer the video_ts into mpg 2 or avi
